RODANTHE — Coastal residents and vacationers shrugged off the fading effects of Hurricane Earl and got ready to enjoy Labor Day weekend Saturday as officials reopened the main highway linking the Outer Banks to the mainland.

Hundreds of cars packed onto the Bonner Bridge as Highway 12 reopened about 7 a.m. The traffic also was slow because some pools of water remained on the road.

The highway had been closed since overnight Thursday when water and sand blown by Earl blocked the route. Workers had to use bulldozers to help clear it and had to wait for some of the water to drain.

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