Old Manns Harbor Bridge Closed for Repairs

The Old Manns Harbor Bridge will be closing on June 3 for an estimated 6 months while the bridge preservation project continues. Also known as the William B. Umstead Bridge, Old Manns Harbor Bridge is on U.S. 64, over Croatan Sound, and is 69 years old and in serious need of repairs.

The bridge was originally built to replace a ferry between Manns Harbor and Roanoke Island when it opened in 1955. The 2.7-mile-long bridge has long been surpassed by the Virginia Dare Bridge, which is 5.2 miles (the longest in the state) and has four lanes rather than the Manns Harbor Bridge's two lanes. But the Manns Harbor Bridge is also used by commuters frequently, and as such the NCDOT has decided to repair the bridge rather than decommissioning and removing it.

All 313 concrete spans and 170 expansion joints on the bridge will be repaired and replaced, respectively, in this $33 million restoration project.

You may be asking why the bridge is being closed instead of one lane remaining open for traffic, and why it would be closing in the middle of summer. It comes down to two reasons: because of the extent of the repair work and how narrow the bridge is, the NCDOT (N.C. Department of Transportation) decided that it would be better to just close the bridge entirely to work quickly without the added complication of vehicles passing at a fast pace.

A statement from NCDOT Resident Engineer Pablo Hernandez clarified: “We realize it will be an inconvenience for some commuters. However, the safety of both motorists and workers is our top priority, and a complete closure of the bridge is the safest alternative for this type of work.”

As to why it would be closing in the middle of the summer, certain materials (such as the epoxies) that are used in the repair work set best in warm temperatures, so summer and fall are the best times to complete repairs without costly delays.

However, the closure will not last for long! The bridge is scheduled to partially reopen in late fall/early winter (the bridge repairs will not be completed until late 2026). In the meantime, drivers traveling between Manns Harbor and Roanoke Island can use the Virginia Dare Bridge as an alternate route.