NC12 Ferry over Hatteras Inlet
Hyde County, North Carolina · rated Fair in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- NC12 Ferry over Hatteras Inlet in Hyde County, North Carolina, is rated in fair condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 5 (fair condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1998, making it 27 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 1,800 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2022).
- Its listed owner is the state highway agency.
- It is one of 38 of the 75 inventoried bridges in Hyde County rated fair (50.7%); 5 (6.7%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is open, no restriction (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated April 2024, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- It has fracture-critical members (NBI item 92A): steel tension members without a redundant load path, which get their own scheduled inspections.
- A fair rating means the lowest-rated major component scores 5 or 6 on FHWA's 0-9 scale: some deterioration or minor section loss, but the structure is sound. It is the middle class, not a warning.
View this bridge on a map → (35.18994, -75.78003)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Superstructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
| Substructure | 5 | 5 | Fair condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Steel girder and floorbeam |
| Length | about 79 ft |
| Location | Ocracoke Island |
| NBI structure number | 000000000950113 |
| Condition class | Fair |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Open, no restriction |
| Last inspection (item 90) | April 2024 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 4: foundations stable, field review says exposed foundations need protection |
| Fracture critical (item 92A) | Yes |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the North Carolina department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Hyde County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| NC12FERRY over Hatteras Inlet | 1992 | 4,100 | Poor |
| NC12 over Island Creek | 2008 | 3,000 | Fair |
| NC12 over Old Hammock Creek | 2008 | 3,000 | Good |
| NC12 over Molasses Creek | 2008 | 3,000 | Fair |
| NC12 over Parkers Creek | 2008 | 3,000 | Fair |
| NC12 over Try Yard Creek | 2008 | 3,000 | Fair |
All bridges nearby: Hyde County, NC bridge conditions · every bridge in Hyde County · North Carolina bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.