Investigation of Barrier Island Highway and Marsh Vulnerability to Bay-Side Flooding and Erosion

Coastal highways along narrow barrier islands are vulnerable to flooding due ocean and bay-side events, which create hazardous travel conditions may restrict access surrounding communities. This study investigates the vulnerability of a segment highway passing through Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge in Outer Banks, North Carolina, USA. Publicly available data, computational modeling, field observations shoreline change synthesized develop fragility models for roadway marsh conditions. At 99% significance, peak daily water levels significant wave heights at nearby monitoring stations determined as predictors closure flooding. Computational investigations storms identify buffer distance between estuarine transect To assess area, classification scheme is proposed used evaluate long-term episodic (storm) stressors. Marsh found be predicted by erosion rate from 5 m depth contour flood tidal channel. The results indicate importance mitigation conservation enhance resilience coastal transportation infrastructure.