All lanes of Washington Baum Bridge reopen to traffic after resurfacing over last two off seasons
All four lanes of the Washington Baum Bridge over the Roanoke Sound have reopened to traffic, after completion of a $21.3 million rehabilitation project designed to improve rideability and extend its lifespan.
The project that began in 2023 take out the bouncy ride of the U.S. 64 bridge between Nags Head and Manteo has wrapped up faster than anticipated, thanks to favorable weather conditions during the fall and early winter.
The work was similar to a 2013 through 2015 project to smooth out the ride along the westbound U.S. 158 Wright Memorial Bridge between Kitty Hawk and Point Harbor.
When both the Washington Baum Bridge and the westbound Wright Memorial Bridge were built in the early to mid-1990s, the girders supporting of the deck did not bend as expected after the concrete road deck was poured on top.
The road deck between each bent, which is the combination of pilings and caps that support the bridges, had a more pronounced “hump” which caused the bouncy ride.
Work started along the underside of what some call the “Pirates Cove Bridge,” and then shifted to the topside in September 2023, which required traffic to be reduced to one lane in each direction.
The westbound lanes underwent concrete repairs and resurfacing, correcting the bumpy surface on the bridge, along with replacement of joints and bearing pads.
Work on the westbound lanes was completed in April 2024, and all four lanes reopened to traffic for the summer.
Last September, construction began on the eastbound lanes proceeded at a steady pace through the winter, and the outside lane of that side reopened to traffic on February 13.
Jersey walls running down the middle of the bridge were removed, and new permanent pavement markings on both sides were installed over the last month.
Both eastbound lanes opened to traffic by Thursday afternoon, well ahead of the mid-May deadline.
Repaving of the roadway along the Nags Head-Manteo causeway, which is part of an overall resurfacing of the five-lane highway between the Wright Memorial Bridge and the N.C. 345/Midway intersection on Roanoke Island, will take place sometime in the future.
An exact date for that project was not yet available, according to NCDOT spokesperson Tim Hass.
Repair work on drainage culverts under the Manteo side of the causeway is ongoing, with single lane closures still in place as of this weekend.
