Despite wintertime delays due to cold and snowy weather, the new Slash Creek Bridge in Hatteras Village is still scheduled to open by Memorial Day Weekend, according to an update from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT).
“The bridge itself is nearly complete,” said Tim Hass, Communications Officer for NCDOT Division One. “The sidewalks and approach slabs are expected to be formed and poured the week of May 5th.”
In the past two weeks, several subcontractors have been working on creating new drainage structures and forming the curb and gutter in preparation for the surface asphalt.
“Our hopes are to have traffic on the bridge by the Memorial Day Weekend with some additional work to be completed under traffic,” said Hass.
Built in 1956, the original 86-foot-long bridge in the heart of the village was determined to be structurally deficient in an NCDOT inspection report. Structurally deficient bridges are considered safe for the time being, but have components in poor condition due to deterioration, and require significant maintenance or a full replacement to remain in service.
The project was originally included in the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) in 2013, and the $4.5 million endeavor was partially funded for preliminary engineering in 2015.
Hatteras Islanders got their first look at the proposed design for the new bridge at a public meeting in November 2022. The proposed replacement bridge includes two 15-foot lanes, as well as five-foot sidewalks on each side.
The contract, awarded to Smith-Rowe LLC of Mount Airy, N.C., called for construction to start no sooner than Sept. 9, 2024, and end no later than May 22, 2025.
A detour on Eagle Pass Road remains in place until the new bridge is open, however, visitors can still access Hatteras Village attractions and businesses with just a 1-2 minute deviation from the Eagle Pass Road detour route.
