When planning activities began in late 2020 for the Lindsay C. Warren (Alligator River) Bridge replacement project, the N.C. Department of Transportation drew upon extensive environmental studies that were conducted from a previous project, U.S. 64 Improvements – Dare & Tyrrell Counties, to widen U.S. 64 to a four lane median divided roadway from Columbia to Manns Harbor, and replace the existing Alligator River Bridge and approach sections. The previous project was shelved in 2015 due to funding, scheduling, environmental and community impact concerns.
With land use (characteristics that specify certain development parameters for real property) and environmental features (land of the natural environment) remaining essentially the same, the previous project alternatives (one of a number of specific transportation improvements in a defined study area), which included six bridge alignment options, was utilized as a starting point.
A Federal Highway Administration Type III Categorical Exclusion, that detailed the planning and preliminary design effort, was completed in August 2021. Since the completion of the Categorical Exclusion, the Project Team has continued with the development of the right of way plans and final designs, with the right of way acquisition phase beginning in May 2023.