Outer Banks “Jug Handle” Bridge gets ready to open

A new bridge to and from the Outer Banks will soon offer a prolonged-expression resolution to part of the N.C. barrier islands’ major freeway that has washed out about the a long time throughout main storms.

The N.C. Department of Transportation suggests the new 2.4-mile Rodanthe Bridge should really open sometime in mid-April. Get the job done is generally accomplished on the $154 million span more than the Pamlico Seem. A neighborhood day, which involves functioning races, is set for April 9, before the bridge will open to autos.

“The Rodanthe Bridge is an essential aspect of preserving N.C. 12 a reliable transportation corridor for Outer Banking companies inhabitants and visitors,” states NCDOT Division 1 Engineer Sterling Baker. “The Group Working day will be a wonderful possibility for every person to rejoice its completion.”

The span has been nicknamed the “Jug Handle” Bridge since of its form. The bridge curves out about the audio parallel to the existing N.C. 12. It raises the long run portion of N.C. Highway 12 and sends it close to the Pea Island Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. 

NCDOT

Get the job done started on the bridge in 2018. It is the 2nd section of the Bonner Bridge substitute. That project involved opening the 2.8-mile Marc Basnight Bridge above Oregon Inlet in 2019 and then the demolition of the old Bonner Bridge. The demolition was accomplished past year.

The Rodanthe Bridge will bypass a part on N.C. 12 regarded as the S-curves, which has breached during storms. The state obtained federal reduction funding subsequent Hurricane Sandy in 2013 to rebuild eroded seaside as a short term solution to the vulnerable highway. The Rodanthe Bridge is NCDOT’s very long-time period resolution, the company claims.

Flatiron Constructors, centered in Broomfield, Colorado, was the prime contractor on the Rodanthe Bridge. RK&K was the designer in partnership with Flatiron on the style-make contract.

The 107-span bridge demanded numerous challenging style features.

To protect the natural environment, Flatiron utilized its Advancing Rail Process, which straddled the newly crafted bridge sections and could “leap frog temporary get the job done sections,” the corporation states.

The corporation also applied precast piling, caps, girders, deck panels and other components to guard versus the Outer Banks’ severe temperature.

“In addition, the structure-construct method authorized layout, environmental permits, utility relocation, and development to get put beneath a single agreement,” the enterprise says, which saved time.

RK&K claims the structure factored in wind speeds of 135 mph, boat collisions, wave forces and scour countermeasures, for a 100-12 months support lifestyle.