Outer Banks bridge to close for 6 months
Repairs not expected to impact purple martin migration
The Old Manns Harbor Bridge on the Outer Banks will close in mid-May for an estimated six months as a $33 million bridge preservation project reaches “a critical stage,” the North Carolina Department of Transportation said Tuesday. The project shouldn’t impact the bridge’s most notable summer travelers — thousands of migrating purple martins.
Formally called the William B. Umstead Bridge, the span between Roanoke Island and Manns Harbor, has been undergoing 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.
The continued work will require the full closure starting the second half of May to repair 313 concrete spans and replace 170 expansion joints, NCDOT said in a news release.
“Given the extent of the restoration work and the narrow lanes on the 69-yearold bridge, the N.C. Department of Transportation has determined that a complete bridge closure is preferable to completing the work under single lane closures,” the release said.
The work is not expected to impact the purple martins that nest in the bridge later in the summer, as bridge work will not occur between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. during the nesting season.
From July to August, the west end of the bridge on Croatan Sound 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.
When the birds arrive in sufficient numbers, the speed limit on the bridge drops to 20 mph at sunrise and sunset, with NCDOT activating flashing lights to alert motorists.
Purple martins have been roosting at the bridge for at least 40 years.
The bridge preservation project is scheduled to be complete in late 2026.