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Dare County hires consultants to develop short-, mid- and long-term plans to preserve NC Highway 12 access
Summary
The board unanimously approved retaining Greer Bey Consulting (with technical director Jim Trogden) to produce a near-, mid- and long-term roadmap and funding options to preserve access on NC Highway 12; the one-year engagement was described as essential to give legislators concrete costs and projects to pursue.
The Dare County Board of Commissioners unanimously voted March 2 to retain Greer Bey Consulting, with former NCDOT official Jim Trogden named as technical director, to develop short-, mid- and long-term options and funding strategies to preserve access on North Carolina Highway 12.
The consultant, Greer Bey, told the board the contract would focus on strategy, engagement and costed options rather than a detailed technical study alone. "What our services would be would be to help you all navigate the strategy on how to get there," she said, adding the work would produce cost estimates and funding pathways that legislators can act on.
The board and members of the public described repeated closures and storm damage to Highway 12 and emphasized urgency. Natalie Perry Kavanagh, a Hatteras Island resident and business owner, recounted watching a vehicle washed by storm waves and urged the county to move faster to secure interim and permanent solutions. "We need another answer while we are also pursuing our longer-term options," she said.
Commissioner Ross moved to retain the firm; Commissioner Balance seconded. During debate the chair estimated the contract would cost about $55,000 over its term and said a clearly defined plan would give state legislators a concrete request to advocate for. County officials said Senator Lazaro indicated he could better push funding when the county can provide specific project costs and options. "If we didn't have a plan and we didn't have numbers on a plan, then he didn't know what to ask for," one official said.
Supporters argued the engagement could identify lower-cost, staged interventions such as temporary bridging or targeted road raisings that can be funded more quickly than major bridge projects. Several speakers pointed to past successes using temporary structures during emergencies as evidence those options can preserve immediate access while larger projects are pursued.
The motion passed unanimously. Next steps include executing the one-year engagement, developing prioritized options with cost estimates and pursuing funding avenues identified in the plan, including state and federal grants and potential earmarks.
The board did not set an exact implementation schedule for specific works; the consultant and county staff said the deliverables will identify near-term options that could be advanced rapidly and a roadmap for mid- and long-term capital projects.
