Introduction
The Outer Banks of North Carolina consist of the extreme coastal areas that separate the mainland from the Atlantic Ocean. Since they play an integral part of the local economy and are related geographically due to the approximately via Albemarle and Currituck Sounds, Elizabeth City/Pasquotank County, Manteo/Roanoke Island, and Currituck County will be included in the scope of this project. The main industry here is tourism, as Northeasterners and Midwesterners flock to the cool beaches during the warmer months of the year. Although the banks themselves extended from Carava to the North to Cape Hatteras and Ocracoke Island to the South, coverage is limited between Corolla and Oregon Inlet.
Contents
U.S. 17 | U.S. 64/264 |
U.S. 158 | NC 3 |
NC 12 | NC 34 |
NC 168 | NC 343 |
NC 345 | NC 400 |
NC 615
U.S. Highways
The largest city in Northeastern North Carolina, Elizabeth City resides on the Pasquotank River in
Pasquotank County north of Albemarle Sound. The route is served by U.S. 17 on its trek between Hampton Roads,
VA and Williamstown to the South. Currently U.S. 17 splits between Business and Bypass designations in the
city itself.
A new limited access Elizabeth City bypass opened in December 20022 outside of the city limits. Upon
completion, a new Bypass U.S. 17 was christened along the new highway. The original Bypass U.S. 17 is now the
mainline U.S. 17 and the original Business U.S. 17 remains in tact.2 This route was needed to
help reduce traffic woes on current Bypass U.S. 17. When the original Bypass U.S. 17 was constructed,
right-of-way was not bought by the state, and development quickly plagued the usefulness of the route. U.S.
158 adds additional traffic, as it enters the scene from the East for an 11 mile overlap with U.S. 17.
See The Ocean Highway - US 17 @
Gribblenation.com for photos and coverage of the Elizabeth City Bypass.
| Business U.S. 17 reassurance shield posted on
north Road Street at downtown. U.S. 17B follows Ehringhaus and Road Streets along the original U.S. 17 alignment
through the city. Photo taken March 31, 2001.
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Gateway to the Outer Banx from Raleigh and Rocky Mount to the West. U.S. 64 straddles wetland areas from
Plymouth east to Manns Harbor. The roadway constitutes two lanes overall with a four lane section from Manteo
East to the terminus. U.S. 264 used to follow U.S. 64 from Manns Harbor eastward. However with the August
20022 opening
of the new Roanoke Sound bridge, U.S. 264 saw truncation to Manns Harbor itself by October 2002.2
U.S. 64 has been converted to a full freeway from Knightdale east to Williamston in recent years. The freeway
carries four lanes and a 70 mph speed limit. Construction is underway to bypass Williamston from the U.S. 17
interchange east to present U.S. 64 east of town. Upon completion of this bypass, U.S. 17 and 64 will overlap
to the east of the city. The new freeway is slated to continue northeastward for U.S. 17. According to
misc.transport.road, studies are underway for a possible four laning of the road from Plymouth (where the
present four lane highway reduces to two lanes) east to Manns Harbor. Already opened is a new four-lane bridge
between Manns Harbor and Manteo. This bridge replaces the original two lane draw bridge to the north (now
designated Business U.S. 64). A four lane corridor is under construction within the vicinity of Scuppernong
as of 2002-04.
Outer Banx Roads @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 64
The only highway connecting the Outer Banks to mainland North Carolina from the north is U.S. 158. The
roadway carries five lanes with a varying speed limit of 45-55 mph. West of Barco and the Southern terminus
of North Carolina 168, U.S. 158 reduces to two lanes en route to Elizabeth City. In Elizabeth City U.S. 158 begins
an 11 mile overlap with U.S. 17 northward to Morgans Corners. Originally U.S. 158 cut through the heart of
downtown along Main Street, crossing a wooden plank bridge over the Pasquotank River en route to Camden. Remnants
of the former alignment are visible to the south of the modern five-lane drawbridge.
Interesting tidbits on U.S. 158: At Coinjock, the intracoastal waterway crosses Currituck County.
Originally, U.S. 158 crossed a two lane drawbridge. This has been replaced with a high arched four lane span
(with 55 mph speed limits) just to the West. Abutments from the old drawbridge remain in Coinjock itself.
Near Nags Head is Jockeys Ridge State Park. This area of the Outer Banks is home to large sand dunes that
reshape themselves every year with the changing winds. Hang gliding, hiking, and sightseeing is offered to
visitors at this unique park. The dunes front U.S. 158(Croatan Highway) near milepost 12.
Until 1988, U.S. 158 was split (in typical North Carolina fashion) between Business and Bypass
designations on the Outer Banks. Current North Carolina 12 (Virginia Dare Trail) was the original U.S. 158,
and was also designated Business U.S. 158 upon completion of the five lane alignment (Croatan Highway) to the West. This five
lane alignment was Bypass U.S. 158, because of the nature of the highway at the time. Locals refer to old
Business U.S. 158 (North Carolina 12) as "The Beach Road," while current U.S. 158 is still dubbed "The
Bypass." Mileposts are in place along U.S. 158 from the Wright Brothers Memorial Bridge (Dare County border)
through to the Eastern Terminus at Whalebone Junction. The mileposts increase as one heads South/East, and
are always referenced by locals.
Additionally, for some reason U.S. 158 becomes Truck U.S. 158 from Business U.S. 17 Westward in Elizabeth
City. The Truck designation continues on the Bypass U.S. 17 overlap (Hughes Boulevard) northward where it
ends at the merge with U.S. 17B (Road Street). In this stretch, all reassurance shields for U.S. 158 are posted
with Truck banners.
Outer Banx Roads @ SouthEastRoads - U.S. Highway 158
State Highways
 
Short state route spurring from U.S. 158 at Bertha to Poplar Branch in Currituck County. Not much to be
said about this route as its two lanes traverse three miles amidst a hodgepodge of homes and forest. The
Eastern terminus occurs at a boat launch ramp on Currituck Sound.
As a tribute to the North Carolina native and NASCAR racing legend Dale Earnhardt, the state agreed to
allow the city of Kannapolis (Dale's hometown) to renumber North Carolina 136 to #3 in honor of Earnhardt.
The current North Carolina 3 at Poplar Branch became North Carolina 136 upon approval.
North Carolina
136 @ State-Ends.com
| There is only one North Carolina 3 (now 136)
shield in each direction of the state highway. Depicted here is the first westbound shield, posted as one leaves
the boat launch area from Currituck Sound. Two North Carolina 136 shields are posted at the turns onto and
from Poplar Branch Road as well. Photo taken 12/17/01.
|
Known as the Virginia Dare Trail between Southern Shores and Whalebone Junction, North Carolina 12
straddles the coastline along a two-lane alignment with a 35 mph speed limit. The highway is home to
condominiums, hotels, beach homes, restaurants, and other commercial establishments. The roadway fronts the
beach itself in Kitty Hawk.
North of Southern Shores, North Carolina 12 serves the towns of Corolla and Duck. Hundreds of beach homes
and condominiums continue the frontage of the Ocean Trail on the 20 mile trek between U.S. 158 and Corolla.
At Corolla Light, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and Currituck Sound. Just north
of the lighthouse, the designation terminates, leaving a North Carolina Secondary Road with a 1/2 mile jaunt
to the end of pavement within Corolla. North of this location, a beach road (Sandfiddler Road) links to
the village of Carava. This roadway is limited to only four-wheel drive vehicles.
South of Whalebone Junction, North Carolina 12 enters Cape Hatteras National Seashore via Oregon Inlet
Road. The two lane highway carries a 55 mph speed limit between U.S. 64 & 158 and the Oregon Inlet Bridge
at the Coast Guard Station. Crossing the Oregon Inlet itself is the Herbert C. Bonner bridge. Opened in 1964,
the span may be replaced with one of two new alignments in the future. Due to the rising costs of controlling
beach erosion and damage caused by nor' easters and hurricanes, officials are undertaking a $9.5 billion
five to seven year study on how to address this issue. At hand are the possibilities of creating a 17 mile
bridge that will bypass three problem areas for beach erosion on the northern end of the Hatteras National
Seashore area. This aspect will bypass the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. This $260 million alternate
contrasts with a more modest 6-mile bridge contemplated by the the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.1
The 2003 landfall of Hurricane Isabel has brought this discussion to the forefront. The catagory 2 storm
ripped two new inlets within the Hatteras Island National Seashore itself, cutting off Buxton, Hatteras, Rodanthe,
Waves, and Salvo from the mainland. Heated debate grew after the storms departure on whether or not to
build new bridges over the new waterways or to backfill them and return North Carolina 12 to its original
form. After several weeks and months of debate, the U.S. Army Core of Engineers agreed to fill in the inlets
and reconstruct North Carolina 12 as it was.
A 1950 road atlas displays a proposed toll road on the North Carolina 12 alignment between the Southern
Shores of the Outer Banks to Virginia Beach, Virginia. This alignment was dropped by the 1954 atlas. Since than
several proposals have emerged to build a new North Carolina 12 bridge across Currituck Sound to link
the state highway from Corolla to the mainland via U.S. 158. Opponents contend that this road will only
benefit tourists from Virginia and will further spur development along the narrow strip of land that
North Carolina 12 traverses.
Outer Banx Roads @ SouthEastRoads - North Carolina 12
North Carolina
12 @ State-Ends.com
North Carolina 34 constitutes a north-south highway between Weeksville and Barco. The two lane highway
begins at the mouth of the Pasquotank River at Albemarle Sound, traveling northbound between Weeksville,
the Elizabeth City Coast Guard Station, Elizabeth City State University, and downtown Elizabeth City. In
Elizabeth City itself, North Carolina 34 overtakes Eringhaus Street from U.S. 17B, traveling five blocks
to Water Street (five blocks) and U.S. 158 (Elizabeth Street). At the west end of the Pasquotank River
draw bridge, North Carolina 34 begins a 5.4 mile overlap with U.S. 158 through Camden to Belcross.
U.S. 158 turns eastward toward the Outer Banks at Belcross, leaving North Carolina 34 to continue on a
northeastern trajectory to North Carolina 168 at Sligo.
North Carolina 34 did not always follow this path. Originally North Carolina 34 followed current North
Carolina 168 from Sligo southward to U.S. 158 at Barco. North Carolina 168 then followed North Carolina 34 through
Elizabeth City to Weeksville. The swap occurred in the 1960s. Incidentally, the North Carolina 34 and original
168 alignment originally was designated North Carolina 170.
North Carolina
34 @ State-Ends.com
| First northbound North Carolina 34 reassurance
shield. The state highway literally ends at the waters of the Pasquotank River 300 feet behind this sign
assembly. Photo taken 03/31/01.
|
| As North Carolina 34 departs the city of
Elizabeth City and the associated Coast Guard Station, the highway transitions into a rural two lane roadway.
This landscape continues through to the southern terminus. Depicted here is the last southbound reassurance
shield, posted within the community of Weeksville. Photo taken 03/31/01.
|
| Situated within the village of Sligo is the
northern terminus of North Carolina 34. A traffic light is posted at the junction with North Carolina 168.
The two highways allow travelers a straight shot between Elizabeth City and the Hampton Roads region of southeastern
Virginia. Photo taken on North Carolina 168 northbound on 12/17/01.
|
Five lane highway linking Chesapeake, Virginia to Currituck County, North Carolina. North Carolina 168 remains
rural in character outside of the Moyock community near the Virginia state line. A widening of the highway
from two to five lanes occurred in the early 1990s to allow for increased tourism growth on the Outer Banks
themselves.
The original North Carolina 168 followed North Carolina 34 from Sligo southward to Wade Point. Even earlier
in road history, North Carolina 168 carried North Carolina 170 shields. That designation related to the
Virginia 170 highway in Chesapeake. The two 170's connected Wade Point with the Norfolk Navy Base. The
numbered changed to 168 upon extension of that state highway in Norfolk, Virginia.
North Carolina
168 @ State-Ends.com
A vastly rural highway linking U.S. 17 and the community of South Mills to U.S. 158 at Camden. The highway
provides a bypass for Outer Banks bound traffic from U.S. 17 and Suffolk, Virginia. The highway continues
6.7 miles south of U.S. 158 to the villages of Shiloh and nearby Taylors Beach.
North Carolina
343 @ State-Ends.com
Short state route linking U.S. 64 in Manteo with Wanchese on Roanoke Island. North Carolina 345 travels a
two lane highway with a 35 to 55 MPH speed limit. Before the extensions of U.S. 64 and 264 from the west,
North Carolina 345 continued to the north end of the island to Fort Raleigh National Historic Site. A remnant
of the former alignment is signed as Old NC 345 through the park area north of Business U.S. 64. Before the
extensions of U.S. 64 & 264, U.S. 158 turned westward to Roanoke Island, allowing the only connection between
the island and the rest of the state. The east-west federal highway saw its eastern terminus at North Carolina
345's current northern terminus.
North Carolina
345 @ State-Ends.com
| The second of two North Carolina 345 southbound
reassurance shields. This particular assembly is posted within the town of Wanchese on Mills Landing Road
after the split with Old Wharf Road. Southward North Carolina 345 continues along Mills Landing Road to
the Albemarle Sound at The Lane (Mill Landing). A short road (Thicket Lump Lane) spurs from the Mills Landing
Road transition into The Lane for a marine facility. It is unknown if Thicket Lump Lane is part of North
Carolina 345. Photo taken 04/01.
|
| The only northbound North Carolina 345 reassurance
shield is posted just beyond the merge of Mills Landing Road with Old Wharf Road. The stretch between Wanchese
and Manteo (Mills Landing Road) carries a 55 mph speed limit and is vastly rural in nature. Photo taken 12/26/00.
|
A highway oddity in that the route traverses only two blocks and is split between different eastbound &
westbound streets. North Carolina 400 links Business U.S. 64 in Manteo with the historic district and the
Queen Elizabeth II tourist attraction. All reassurance shields are on prefabricated recreational background
(brown) signs.
North Carolina
400 @ State-Ends.com
Isolated route spurring from Virginia Beach via Virginia State Secondary Route 615 to Knotts Island.
North Carolina 615 consists of a winding two lane roadway through Mackay Island National Wildlife Refuge
known as Marsh Causeway. Marsh Causeway departs the wildlife area for the community of Knotts Island
before terminating at the Currituck Sound Ferry Crossing to Currituck and U.S. 158.
North Carolina
615 @ State-Ends.com
Scenery
The area is famous from the Wright Brothers and their pioneering in flight and the first English child
born in North America (Virginia Dare) among other things. But what most people come to the Outer Banks for
is the beach and the natural beauty associated with the Albemarle Sound to the West and the Atlantic Ocean
to the East.
| Asides the Wright Brothers, the Outer Banks
are famous for its lighthouses. This is Bodie Island Lighthouse, located within the Cape Hatteras National
Seashore near Oregon Inlet. Four other light houses are found along the coast: Corolla Light, Hatteras
Light, Ocracoke Light, and Cape Fear Light. Photo taken 12/16/01.
|
Sources:
1 - Lansford, John. "NC 12 fix not easy," Online posting, misc.transport.road. January 15, 2004.
2 - Froehlig, Adam.
Page Updated January 24, 2004.
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