BARCO — Approximately 20 people, predominantly from the county's remote 4-wheel-drive areas of Carova and Swan Beach, attended last Monday's Currituck Board of Commissioners meeting to protest a proposal to improve Sandfiddler Road.

Although paving Sandfiddler Road was not on the night's agenda, proposals for any improvement to Sandfiddler Road have alarmed local residents.

Rufus Baldwin, of Swan Beach, said the community had been kept in the dark about the possible reconstruction of Sandfiddler Road.

"All we get is hearsay," Baldwin said. "Nothing comes from the commissioners about what's going on. This is not about safety issues."

Baldwin said property owners had moved to the remote northern beaches because they liked the unspoiled nature of the area.

Bob Evans, a Kitty Hawk resident, told commissioners how Fruitville Township commissioner Ernie Bowden had attended a meeting of about 90 people in Carova's fire house Sunday, March 4.

"We are here concerning the questions we have about proposals concerning the improvement to Sandfiddler Road. The information we have is limited to a marketing brochure prepared by Twiddy and Company (realtors). Mr. Bowden did come to the meeting but he was unwilling to share any additional information," Evans said. "There's a concern that perhaps some input is needed if improving Sandfiddler is the right thing for the long term health for the four-wheel drive area."

Evans said 40 to 50 four-way intersections would be created behind the dunes and there was a danger the road would become a "race track."

"We feel like the problems we have there are concerning density of use," Evans said. "A quick fix, reactionary solution such as fixing Sandfiddler to improve access for a couple of rental companies' rental cottages is not the right approach. A long term plan needs to develop."

At a retreat in January the board of commissioners ruled out any improvements to Sandfiddler Road without the support of local people.

Bowden who did not attend the retreat has been pushing for road improvements in the last month. Bowden said he believes Sandfiddler Road needs to be regraded to take vehicles off the beaches.

Bowden said at last Monday's meeting that proposals to improve Sandfiddler Road were "still in the discussion stage."

"It's not even been approved at this time," Bowden said. "It hadn't even reached the design stage."

Bowden, who believes road improvements will improve safety on the beaches, urged the county to "make a special effort" to better inform the citizens of Carova and Swan Beaches.

(Contact David Macaulay at

dmacaulay@coxnc.com)