BUILD THE MARINER HIGHWAY!

YOU CAN HELP!

THE VISION:

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The "Mariner Highway" is a visionary concept to build a highway between Highway 70 and Highway 101 in the vicinity of East Carteret High School (see map above). In addition to providing a grand entrance to Down East and the Outer Banks Scenic By-way, the vision includes implementing a grade separation of the existing highway that will provide real-life, physical, flood resilience for the drivers of the only route in and out of the Down East areas. In addition, the project will include intersection and highway modifications for improved traffic flow in and around East Carteret High School.

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THE PROBLEMS:

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HIGHWAY FLOODING

The North River "fill", or the causeway crossing the marsh on the west side of North River, floods during storms and even during "king tide" events. Highway 70 to the south (between East Carteret High School and Beaufort) also floods, as does Merrimon Road to the north, between East Carteret High School and Laurel Road. And even though it floods frequently to the point of being impassable, the Merrimon Road/Laurel Road route is the designated evacuation route for the Down East communities in the event of a storm.

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Raising the road surface elevation and providing an alternative route from North River to Highway 101 (which isn't as susceptible to flooding), will provide for an actual storm evacuation route. Presently, even though Merrimon Road/Laurel Road route carries the storm evacuation route designation, the reality is a viable, true storm evacuation route, doesn't exist!

HIGHWAY TRAFFIC FLOW

Secondary goals are to mitigate traffic back-ups at the intersection known as "East Carteret Corner" (Merrimon Road and Highway 70) where daily commuters and the parents and students at East Carteret High School are mashed together in morning and afternoon chaos and delays.

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This project will make the necessary highway and intersection modifications to help keep traffic flowing, doing much to alleviate traffic problems.  A back entrance/exit to East Carteret High School is also a potential solution to the current traffic paradigm that is currently solely dependent on Highway 70.

THE MARINER HIGHWAY

In view of this close relationship between East Carteret High School and the Down East Communities, the East Carteret High School Mariner mascot theme was adopted for this essential community project. Though not identified specifically as the Mariner Highway in the Carteret County Comprehensive Transportation Plan, the proposed project is item number 315 (CART40032-H) in the core report. The Carteret County Comprehensive Transportation Plan was approved by the North Carolina Board of Transportation in April 2026.

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NOW LET'S GET IT BUILT! 

GET ON THE EMAIL LIST BELOW!

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CONTACT YOUR LOCAL OFFICIALS INDICATING YOUR SUPPORT!

NGP - 10/22/2026 ​​​

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