As many of you know, the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has long planned to add a new bridge, the Rodanthe bridge, to bypass the infamous Highway 12 S-turns and improve access to Hatteras Island. The power delivered to Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands is exclusively provided by the transmission line that runs parallel to the existing highway. Once NCDOT completes the Rodanthe bridge and traffic is shifted, they will immediately begin removing the asphalt, dunes and sandbags that are in the current highway right of way, leaving our transmission line exposed to the elements and not easily accessible.

Consequently, we need to install our transmission line under the new bridge. The Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative (CHEC) has awarded a contract to New River Electrical to complete the job of installing the hanger, conduit, and cables under the bridge. To continue enjoying the life that we have on the island, we all will need to make minor sacrifices for the duration of this project. We don’t expect these hardships to extend much beyond some traffic delays, but there is the potential for power outages as well.

New River, and its subcontractor Aptus, have already begun work at the bridge site. As NCDOT completes their project and traffic is shifted onto the bridge, our work will continue, requiring minor traffic delays. Our contractor plans to work until the end of May, during daylight hours, Mondays through Fridays. We will pause our on-bridge work from June until September, to avoid disrupting summer traffic. After the peak of the tourist season, work will begin again, with completion expected by December 2022. The new transmission line will be energized in 2023.

We’ve worked hard to earn the trust and respect of our members by providing exceptional service and a commitment to safety. This is a complex project and we need to anticipate potential issues. We would ask everyone to be patient and understanding, knowing that our hard-working crews are doing all they can to continue to provide you with the best service possible while staying safe themselves.

For updates, frequently asked questions, and project timelines and photos, we invite you to visit chec.coop/rodanthebridge.