THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, December 10, 1994 TAG: 9412100185
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B4 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
DATELINE: BUXTON LENGTH: Short : 41 lines
The Cape Hatteras Lighthouse has protected thousands of mariners through the decades. Now, after getting a battering in Hurricane Gordon, the historic beacon will get a helping hand.
The National Park Service has added 380 new sandbags near weakened areas around the lighthouse, caused by the surge of last month's storm.
The new reinforcement is capable of holding three tons of sand, and has been installed at the boardwalk just north of the light, and at the groin ``cut-off'' just south of the tower.
The park service has begun a second measure - the repair of the southernmost groin at the lighthouse site.
Originally built to provide security from beach erosion for the former naval base north of the lighthouse, the groin currently secures beachfront for the northern section of a protective dune.
``This groin has suffered much structural damage during storms in recent months,'' said Charlie Snow, an engineer for the Cape Hatteras Group of national parks.
``Failure of the groin could lead to massive sand erosion at the site.''
The Army Corps of Engineers has designed a plan calling for 144 sections of two feet wide, 45 feet long steel sheet piling, which will be placed overlapping to form new groin sections next to deteriorated concrete pilings. The project will begin Monday.
As a long-term measure, the National Park Service has chosen to move the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse one-half mile south of its current site.
However, until funding becomes available, temporary measures like groin repair are needed.
The Hatteras Island Visitor Center will remain open to the public during the project. However, sections of the beach near the lighthouse will be closed to ensure safety. by CNB