State Issues Emergency Permit to Address Erosion at Ferry Terminal

The N.C. Division of Coastal Management issued an emergency permit to the N.C. Department of Transportation (DOT) to address an urgent situation at the South Dock Ferry Terminal on the north end of Ocracoke Island.

This emergency major permit, under the Coastal Area Management Act, authorizes DOT to construct an approximately 1000-linear-foot bulkhead to protect against severe shoreline erosion that is a growing threat to the ferry terminal basin and stacking lanes.

The ferry terminal at this location is a vital transportation link between Ocracoke and Hatteras islands, and a crucial part of hurricane evacuation routes.

Bulkhead construction is expected to begin around July 10 and take approximately one month to complete.

Due to the urgency of the situation, Department of Environmental Quality Secretary Michael S. Regan initially authorized the emergency permit in March, then reauthorized the action on June 4 following project design changes.

The bulkhead is the initial phase of a broader, long-range NCDOT plan to address shoreline erosion at the site, for which the National Park Service is accepting public comment.