It's a little surprising that there isn't a thread for NC 12 and its many tribulations, so perhaps it's worth starting one. Today's news is that the (semi-)permanent bridge over New Inlet has opened to traffic:
https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=14589
Here's the Google Maps view of the temporary bridge that is being replaced:
https://goo.gl/maps/j8yLxvyvwFR2
This opening confirms that NCDOT accepts this version of the historic New Inlet, opened by Hurricane Irene in 2011, as a permanent feature of OBX geography. To the extent that anything is permanent on the Banks, that is.