As we’ve noted, this is the year of the bridge out. First, it was the infamous ship-strike of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Maryland. Then, Oklahomans took a short beating when a bridge over the Kerr Reservoir took a hit. In Philly, a “cream cheese” incident on a bridge serving I-95 created traffic nightmares. Finally, in Colorado, a key bridge serving the route between Gunnison and Montrose has made for an hours-long detour. Now there’s another bridge out. This time it’s North Carolina—but, happily, there’s a nearby alternative.
Old Manns Harbor bridge out for six months
The William B. Umstead (locally known as the Old Manns Harbor) Bridge on U.S. 64 over Croatan Sound will be shutting down on June 3. This won’t be a quick fix—it’ll take an estimated six months before reopening. The state says it’s all because of a $33 million bridge preservation project that’s entering “a critical phase.”
During the closure, all 313 concrete spans on the bridge will be repaired and each of the 170 expansion joints will be replaced. “Given the extent of the restoration work and the narrow lanes on the 69-year-old bridge, the N.C. Department of Transportation has determined that a complete bridge closure is preferable to completing the work under single lane closures,” says an official state media release. “In addition, epoxies and other materials to be used in the preservation work are best used in warm temperatures, meaning a summer and fall closure was the best way to avoid costly delays.”
Detours and bird lovers
The bridge is scheduled to reopen with lane closures in the late fall or early winter. What’s the average rubbernecking RV driver to do? When traveling between Manns Harbor and Roanoke Island, they can use the Virginia Dare Bridge as an alternate route. North Carolina officials dare you!
If you’re a bird lover, you may know that since the Old Manns Harbor Bridge opened in the late 1950s, motorists aren’t its only fans. The Umstead Bridge is heavily used by purple martins to roost. The speed limit on the bridge is even reduced from 55 mph to 20 mph at dawn and dusk in July and August. All this to keep these aerial acrobats safe. The project shouldn’t be tough on the not-really-purple birds, as work won’t occur between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. during nesting season.
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Thank you, Russ and Tina! 🙂 How interesting! I have been across the Virginia Dare bridge on US 64 traveling to Nags Head, Kill Devil Hills, Rodanthe, and other Outer Banks towns several times. But I had no idea that there was another bridge on the north side of Manteo. 🤔😯 Thank you for continuing my education of North Carolina’s Outer Banks! 🙂 Safe travels! 🙂