Future Projects

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Dare County's Capital Improvement Plan includes the construction of a new facility to serve as Dare County EMS Station 5 in Nags Head, as well as the renovation and reconstruction of the Dare County Public Works Department facilities in Manteo and Buxton.

This phase is tentatively scheduled to begin in the spring/summer of 2025. Additional information about these projects will be provided in the sections below as it becomes available.

Dare County EMS Station 5 in Nags Head

Location: 105 W. Seachase Drive, Nags Head, NC 27959

Expected Start Date: Spring/Summer 2025

Expected Completion: TBD

Cost: Approximately $10 million

Project Overview: A new facility will be constructed at the corner of W. Seachase Drive and U.S. Highway 158 (commonly referred to as "the bypass") in Nags Head to serve as Dare County EMS Station 5. Dare County EMS currently operates out of a portion of the Nags Head Fire Rescue Station, which is located at 5314 S. Croatan Highway in Nags Head. Dare County EMS personnel will operate out of the new facility located at 105 W. Seachase Drive once construction of the new facility is eventually complete.

Updates:

Dare County EMS Station 5 in Nags Head Update - June 23, 2025:
Dare County has closed on the Nags Head property where the new Dare County EMS Station 5 will be constructed (105 W. Seachase Drive). The station has been designed and is now in the constructability phase with Barnhill Contracting Company, where 3-D modeling will be used to ensure the building functions as it was designed to do so. Barnhill currently expects to begin construction of the new facility in the fall of 2026. More detailed information will be posted once it becomes available.
Dare County EMS Station 5 in Nags Head Update - March 28, 2025:
Dare County has closed on the Nags Head property located at 105 W. Seachase Drive, which will be the future location of the new Dare County EMS Station 5. The new EMS station has been designed and is now in the constructability phase with Barnhill Contracting Company. During this phase, 3-D modeling will be used to ensure the building functions as it was designed to do so. Barnhill currently expects to begin construction of the new facility that will serve as Dare County EMS Station 5 in Nags Head in the fall of 2026. Additional information will be posted once further details are available.

Dare County EMS Station 5 in Nags Head Update - March 12, 2025:

Dare County has closed on the property located at 105 W. Seachase Drive in Nags Head where the county intends to construct a new facility to serve as Dare County EMS Station 5. The new station has been designed and is currently in the constructability phase with Barnhill Contracting Company. During this phase, 3D modeling will be used to ensure the building functions as it was designed to do so.

Dare County EMS Station 5 in Nags Head Update - September 10, 2024:

The Dare County Board of Commissioners has approved Dare County’s offer to purchase and contract with the Town of Nags Head for the acquisition of the property located at 105 W. Seachase Drive in Nags Head where the county intends to construct a new EMS Station (Dare County EMS Station 5).

The proposed purchase price is $1.7 million for the 49,000-square-foot property, which is located at the corner of W. Seachase Drive and U.S. Highway 158 (“the bypass”) in Nags Head, just north of the Nags Head Fire Rescue Station that is located at 5314 South Croatan Highway. Dare County EMS currently operates out of a portion of the Nags Head Fire Rescue Station; however, EMS personnel will operate out of the new station once construction of a new facility is eventually complete.

The board approved the offer to purchase the property at 105 W. Seachase Drive in Nags Head during the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Tuesday, September 3, 2024.

Dare County is currently in the process of performing its due diligence on the property and has 210 days (7 months) from the date the offer was signed to ensure the site is suitable for the construction of a new Dare County EMS station. Updates will be posted on this page as additional information becomes available.

For more information, please click here to view the packet for the September 3, 2024 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting and navigate to Item 20.

Dare County EMS Station 6 in Rodanthe - ON HOLD UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE

May 13, 2025 Update - Dare County EMS Station 6 in Rodanthe:

The construction of a new facility to serve as Dare County EMS Station 6 has been placed on hold until a later date. Updates on this project will be shared once more information becomes available.

March 28, 2025 Update - Dare County EMS Station 6 in Rodanthe:

On March 21, 2025, Dare County closed on the property located at 25691 N.C. Highway 12 in Waves, which is the proposed location for the construction of a new Dare County EMS Station 6 that will replace the current Dare County EMS station located in the Chicamacomico Banks Volunteer Fire Department in Rodanthe. Design work has begun and is expected to be completed toward the end of 2025.

Barnhill Contracting Company currently expects construction to begin in early 2027, once the Dare County Public Works facility in Manteo, the Dare County Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigations Division evidence building and new Dare County EMS Station 5 in Nags Head are near completion. Further details will be announced once additional information become available.

March 12, 2025 Update - Dare County EMS Station 6 in Rodanthe:

Due diligence is ongoing for a $2.1 million property located at 25691 N.C. Highway 12 in Waves, which is the proposed location for the construction of a new Dare County EMS Station 6 that will replace the current Dare County EMS station located in the Chicamacomico Banks Volunteer Fire Department in Rodanthe. The closing for this property is currently scheduled for March 21, 2025.

During the Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting that was held at 9 a.m. on Monday, November 4, 2024, the board approved the purchase contract and authorized Dare County Manager Bobby Outten to execute budget amendments taking funds from the fund balance to cover the purchase price and closing costs this property (Parcel #014316000).

Dare County Public Works Facility Renovations in Buxton

Location: Buxton, NC

Projected Start Date: Winter 2028

Expected Completion: TBD

Estimated Cost: Approximately $8 million

Project Overview:

This project includes a series of significant upgrades and renovations to the Dare County Public Works Department's facility in Buxton.

The Buxton Transfer Station on Hatteras Island will undergo a series of renovations and improvements, the specifics of which are still currently in the process of being determined.

Dare County Public Works personnel will continue to perform operations at these facilities while the construction is taking place to ensure there is no interruption in the services that are provided to Dare County citizens.

Please Note: This information is subject to change due to a variety of factors. Updated information for these projects will be posted once it becomes available.

For more information about the Dare County Public Works Department, please visit DareNC.gov/PublicWorks.

June 23, 2025 Update for Dare County Public Works (Buxton Facility):

Oakley Collier Architects and CDM Smith are working on the design and permitting for this location to ensure it meets all the state regulations to be a transfer station rather than a convenience station. More detailed information will be posted once it becomes available.

March 28, 2025 Update for Dare County Public Works (Buxton Facility):
Oakley Collier Architects and CDM Smith are continuing to work on the design and permitting for this location in Buxton to ensure it meets all of the state regulations to serve as a transfer station rather than a convenience station. More information will be posted once it becomes available.

March 12, 2025 Update for Dare County Public Works (Buxton Facility):

Oakley Collier Architects and and CDM Smith Inc. are currently working on the design and permitting for this location to ensure it meets all the state regulations to be a transfer station rather than a convenience station.

September 1, 2024 Update - Manteo & Buxton Facilities:

Programming and design work for the renovation and reconstruction of Dare County’s Public Works facilities in Manteo and Buxton continues. Updates will be posted on this page as additional information becomes available.

July 31, 2024 Update - Manteo & Buxton Facilities:
Projects planned to take place at the Dare County Public Works facility located on Driftwood Drive in Manteo and Buxton Transfer Station have been approved. Contracts are in the process of being approved and signed, and design work will follow. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

Dare County Public Works Facility Renovations in Manteo

Location: Manteo, NC

Projected Start Date: Winter 2025

Expected Completion: TBD

Estimated Cost: Approximately $42 million

Project Overview:

This project includes a series of significant upgrades and renovations to the Dare County Public Works Department's facility in Manteo. During this project, the Dare County Public Works facility located on Driftwood Drive in Manteo will be completely reconstructed, with a brand-new and redesigned facility slated to take its place.

The site plan that was proposed by Oakley Collier Architects was designed to place all of the public services at this location—such as administrative services and recycling drop-off containers—at the front of the new facility in an area that is easily accessible to the public. The remaining portions of the new facility will be constructed behind a security gate in order to ensure public safety by prohibiting citizens from gaining access to potentially dangerous working areas.

This part of the project includes the construction of a brand-new 5,000-square-foot administration building, 19,500-square-foot fleet maintenance division, 16,300-square-foot facility maintenance division, 9,100-square-foot recycling division, 2,600-square-foot turf maintenance division and a 5,600-square-foot mosquito control unit.

In addition to the reconstruction of the Dare County Public Works facility on Driftwood Drive in Manteo, all of the other existing buildings located at the Driftwood Drive facility will be demolished.

Please Note: This information is subject to change due to a variety of factors. Updated information for these projects will be posted once it becomes available.

For more information about the Dare County Public Works Department, please visit DareNC.gov/PublicWorks.

June 23, 2025 Update for Dare County Public Works (Manteo Facility):

Public Works Manteo has been designed and is now in the constructability phase with Barnhill Contracting Company in which 3-D modeling will be used to ensure the building functions as it was designed to do so. Barnhill currently expects construction of the new facility to begin in early 2026. More detailed information will be posted once it becomes available.

March 28, 2025 Update for Dare County Public Works (Manteo Facility):

Public Works Manteo has been designed and is now in the constructability phase with Barnhill Contracting Company. During this phase, 3-D modeling will be used to ensure the building functions as it was designed to do so. Barnhill currently expects construction of the new facility to begin in early 2026.

March 12, 2025 Update for Dare County Public Works (Manteo Facility):

Barnhill Contracting Company has been selected as the “Phase III New Construction” construction manager at risk for Dare County. The Dare County Public Works Department’s facility in Manteo has been designed and is currently in the constructability phase with Barnhill. During this phase, 3D modeling will be used to ensure the building functions as it was designed to do so.

September 1, 2024 Update - Manteo & Buxton Facilities:

Future plans include the renovation and/or reconstruction of Dare County EMS Station 2 in Manteo, Dare County EMS Station 3 in Frisco and Dare County EMS Station 6 in Rodanthe, as well as updates and renovations to various Dare County Parks and Recreation facilities.

Funding for the projects within the Capital Improvement Plan comes from Dare County’s 1 percent land transfer tax and is therefore variable. The projects within this phase will not be financed, and construction for these projects will be based on the availability of funding.

Additional details about these projects will be provided as more information becomes available.

Dare County EMS Station 2 in Manteo & Dare County EMS Station 3 in Frisco

Project Overview: Dare County is currently in the process of performing a multiphase project during which the county's decades-old and outdated EMS stations will be renovated and/or reconstructed to modernize these facilities in an effort to better serve the residents and visitors of Dare County.

Locations: Dare County EMS Station 2 in Manteo, Dare County EMS Station 3 in Frisco and Dare County EMS Station 6 in Rodanthe

Start Date: TBD

Expected Completion: TBD

Estimated Cost: TBD

March 12, 2025 Update - Dare County EMS Station 6 in Rodanthe:
Due diligence is ongoing for a $2.1 million property located at 25691 N.C. Highway 12 in Waves, which is the proposed location for the construction of a new Dare County EMS Station 6 to replace the current station that is located in the Chicamacomico Banks Volunteer Fire Department in Rodanthe. The closing for this property is currently scheduled for March 21, 2025.

Additional information about this project will be provided once it becomes available.

2026-2027 Beach Nourishment Projects:

Beach nourishment projects in Dare County are designed to last approximately five years under normal conditions. At the end of each five-year interval, renourishment (maintenance) projects are necessary to restore the shoreline.

Avon & Buxton Beach Nourishment Updates:

Beach nourishment projects in the unincorporated villages of Avon and Buxton on Hatteras Island are currently scheduled to take place in 2026.* Erosion rates are being monitored and will impact the volume of sand that is placed on each beach. Permitting and design work for these projects is ongoing. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available.

May 2025 Update:

Permitting and design work for the beach nourishment projects scheduled to take place in 2026 in Avon and Buxton are ongoing. Erosion rates are being monitored and will impact the volume of sand that is placed on each beach. Both projects are currently expected to begin in the early summer of 2026. Additional information will be posted once further details are available.

January 2025 Update:

The Dare County Board of Commissioners voted during its January 6, 2025 meeting to authorize Dare County Finance Director David Clawson to sign the Designation of Applicant’s Agent (DAA) and State-Applicant Disaster Assistance Agreement (SAA). These agreements are necessary to apply to receive federal and state funding following loss of sand in the project area in Buxton during Potential Tropical Cyclone #8 last September.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) declared Dare County eligible for disaster assistance due to the storm’s impacts, which resulted in approximately 175,000 cubic yards of sand loss in Buxton. A post-storm survey conducted by Coastal Science and Engineering placed the cost of replacing this sand at $10.2 million. If the funding is approved, the county plans to integrate this effort into its larger 2026 maintenance project, leveraging efficiencies and cost savings.

Nags Head Beach Nourishment Updates:

Duck, Southern Shores, Kitty Hawk & Kill Devil Hills Beach Nourishment Updates:

Buxton Terminal Groin Repair Updates:

Estimated Start Date: Late Summer 2026/Fall 2026

Timeline: 45-60 days

August 2025 Update:

The Dare County Board of Commissioners approved a contract with Coastal Science and Engineering (CSE), adopted a related budget amendment and authorized Dare County Manager Bobby Outten to sign the agreement—advancing the Buxton terminal groin repair project as part of the broader 2026 beach nourishment project that is currently being planned for the Village of Buxton. The approved $288,320 contract with CSE covers professional services, including bid preparation, construction oversight and project management for the repair. The budget amendment reallocates $288,320 from the Beach Nourishment Reserve Fund to fund this phase of the project.

The Buxton terminal groin was originally constructed to help stabilize the shoreline and reduce erosion by trapping sand and protecting N.C. Highway 12. Over time, portions of the groin have become buried or damaged due to shifting sands and storm impacts. During the March 3, 2025 Dare County Board of Commissioners meeting, Outten reported that engineering assessments found at least 50 percent of the groin remains intact, qualifying it for repair under state and federal permitting guidelines. Repairing the groin is considered a critical component of the upcoming nourishment project, as it plays a vital role in maintaining the beach profile and protecting infrastructure from ongoing coastal erosion.

Next, CSE will submit a terminal groin repair permit application to the necessary regulatory agencies for permitting. If approved, the project can then move forward.