The Town of Duck NC 12 Resiliency Project, designed by VHB, has been honored with a 2026 Best Restored Shore Award from the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA). The award was presented on October 7 at ASBPA's National Coastal Conference in Atlantic City, New Jersey, as part of the organization's centennial celebration. Restoration projects from across the country were recognized for their work protecting shorelines, restoring habitats, and strengthening coastal communities.
NC 12 is the only north-south access through Duck and serves as a critical connection for residents, businesses, emergency responders, and visitors. Years of flooding and shoreline erosion increasingly threatened that access, and the Town of Duck set out to find a solution that would address those challenges while preserving the character of the community. VHB worked with project partners to combine shoreline restoration with roadway, drainage, habitat, and public safety improvements. Today, the corridor is better protected from coastal impacts, and people can still reach the places and experiences that make Duck special.
"What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that the project’s benefits are part of everyday life in Duck, even if people don't see all the planning, collaboration, and design behind it," said Chris DeWitt, Principal at VHB. "It shows what's possible when communities invest in solutions that protect both the natural environment and the places people depend on, and seeing that vision become a reality has been incredibly rewarding for our team."
The recognition arrives just as ASBPA celebrates 100 years of advancing shore and beach preservation across the country. Every coastal community faces its own challenges, but Duck's story shows how much a single restoration effort can accomplish: keeping roads open, supporting healthy habitats, improving safety, and helping a community prepare for the future while staying true to itself. VHB is proud to keep partnering with coastal communities on resilient, community-focused solutions that balance environmental stewardship with long-term infrastructure needs.
Discover more about VHB's coastal engineering and resiliency services.
