U.S. 421 Construction Helped Doom Fort Fisher

There is a definite road connection to Fort Fisher.  U.S. Highway 421 runs right through the fort on its way down Federal Point to "The Rocks" at its eastern terminus, about two miles southward.  Several of the huge sand traverses had to be taken down to accommodate the road back in the 1920s.

Even worse, though, was the removal of a coquina ledge out in the ocean to use as a base for the roadway.  That coquina acted as a breakwater to slow the ocean wave pounding.  After its removal, the ocean came in a huge amount and demolished almost half of the fort's sea face and northeast bastion.

A huge Army Corps of Engineers revetment seems to have slowed the ocean for now.

--RoadDog