As thousands depart North Carolina’s Outer Banks this week in advance of Hurricane Florence, state transportation officials are busy working to keep N.C. 12 open to traffic.
Transportation
Wilmington Port Looks to Lure Bigger Ships
The N.C. Ports Authority is seeking public input on plans to better accommodate larger and more fully loaded ships at Wilmington, including ideas that worry environmental groups and others.
Carova Beach Parking Dispute Continues
A judge has rejected a request for a temporary injunction that would have halted a new county fee on nonresident beach parking in Currituck County, but a Virginia off-road club vows to keep fighting.
Damaged Pipe Complicates Dredging Job
A project to dredge the emergency ferry channel in Rodanthe Harbor, a critical route for Hatteras Island when roads or bridges are inaccessible, has been complicated by the discovery of a broken culvert.
Bonner Bridge Replacement Work Continues
Work continues on the long-planned replacement for the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet and is scheduled to open to traffic during the fall of this year.
Ocracoke Express Ferry Expected This Fall
The Ocracoke Express Ferry is expected to be delivered later this fall, when the ferry will undergo sea trials, and be ready for operation in spring 2019.
Little Support for Ferry Route Cuts, Fare Hikes
Recommendations for cutting state ferry runs and increasing fares ran aground last week during a legislative committee meeting, but legislators appeared more supportive of proposed partnerships for passenger ferries.
Ocracoke Readies For Trams, Passenger Ferry
With a funding commitment from the state for trams on Ocracoke village, Hyde County officials are readying for the state’s first high-speed passenger ferry that will shuttle visitors between the island and Hatteras.
Officials: Passenger Ferry Will Boost Tourism
The state’s first passenger-only ferry under construction near Swansboro is part of a plan to boost Ocracoke Island tourism, which has flagged as a result of long waits and travel times for vehicle ferries from Hatteras.
Hyde Sees Costs Rise in Passenger Ferry Plan
As the state prepares to launch its first passenger-only ferry service to Ocracoke Island, plans for transporting riders once they arrive are in flux, with Hyde County now facing costs higher than expected.
Wilmington, Port Seek State Help On Rail Fix
A pricey proposal to improve rail access at the Wilmington port and accommodate expected urban growth would relocate the existing rail line from its route through the city to the other side of the Cape Fear River.
Panel Weighs In On Passenger Ferry Plan
Questions about parking, public information and other logistics are among the key details to be worked out before the state’s first passenger ferry, which is proposed for the Hatteras-Ocracoke route, is placed into service.
Electric Car Chargers Slated for Eastern NC
A legal settlement with Duke Energy led to a $1.5 million program to install electric vehicle chargers in N.C., which many think will be good for business in the eastern part of the state.
US 17 Bypass Plan Prompts Flooding Fears
State transportation officials are set to study a more than decade-old plan to connect U.S. 17 in Brunswick County across the state line to a South Carolina highway, but a county commissioner is among those worried about destruction of wetlands in a flood-prone area.
Barges Proposed as Dredging Alternative
A UNCW professor and his graduate students have proposed using barges for offloading cargo as an alternative to channel deepening at the state port in Wilmington to accommodate the larger ships now able to transit the Panama Canal.
Not All Happy With Proposed N.C. 12 Bridge
Holding signs and chanting “Save our Sounds,” a small group of Hatteras Island property owners protested against a projected bridge that they say will hurt property values, livelihoods and lifestyles.