Outer Banks bridge speed limit reduced

The speed limit on the U.S. 64 William B. Umstead Bridge, locally known as the Old Manns Harbor Bridge, will be reduced from 55 mph to 45 mph this month as crews continue a $33 million bridge preservation project on the 69-year-old structure.

The work involves the repair of deteriorated concrete on the footings, piles and caps of the substructure, as well as expansion joint replacements, crack sealing and deck surface treatment.

In the coming weeks, workers will begin replacing the bridge’s aging expansion joints and installing steel plates on the bridge deck. Because of this, lower speeds are necessary for safety and to maintain traffic flow while the bridge remains open, the North Carolina Department of Transportation said in a release.

In May, the bridge will be closed to all traffic for at least six months as the preservation project enters its next phase.

Drivers traveling between Manns Harbor and Roanoke Island can use the Virginia Dare Bridge as an alternate route.

The bridge project is not expected to impact the purple martins that nest in the bridge during July and August, as work will not occur between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. during nesting season.

From July to August, the west end of the bridge becomes home to more than 100,000 birds as they prepare for their annual migration to Brazil.

The birds roost under the bridge at night, departing at dawn to feed and returning at sunset.

The flock is so large during its peak that it can be seen on the National Weather Service’s Doppler radar.

The project is expected to be complete in late 2026, at which point the speed limit will return to 55 mph.