The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) has reinitiated a project study to evaluate widening of the 27.3-mile segment of US 64 from Columbia (in Tyrrell County) to US 264 (in Dare County near Manns Harbor). The study proposes to widen the existing two-lane roadway to a multiple-lane highway for the entire length. The project will also replace the Lindsey C. Warren Bridge that crosses the Alligator River with a new bridge that is located either to the north or south side of the existing bridge.

This study will combine two projects that are presently designated in the 2007-2013 North Carolina Transportation Improvement Program as project numbers R-2544 and R-2545.

Newsletter Spring 2007

General News March, 2007 - Public Officials Meeting Project Schedule

The NCDOT has prepared a detailed Purpose and Need statement (62 MB) for the project. The primary purposes of the project will include:

1. Consistency with North Carolina's Strategic Highway Corridor Plan which seeks long-term interconnectivity of consistent transportation corridors in North Carolina) and the Intrastate Highway System.
2. Achieving a desirable hurricane evacuation time from North Carolina Outer Banks area.
3. Maintaining a bridge across the Alligator River that meets the needs of highway users.

The proposed project Study Corridor will primarily consist of an area 1000 feet north and 1000 feet south of the existing US 64 centerline. The Lindsey C. Warren Bridge Study Corridor is much wider as it will extend more than one mile north and one mile south of the existing bridge.

The Right-of-Way (area used for the new road) for the new roadway is expected to range from 200 to 300 feet in width. It is important to note that the Study Corridor width was chosen to provide opportunities for minimizing impacts to homes, businesses and natural resources (wetlands, canals, etc.) along the project corridor. The improved roadway will not occupy the entire width of the Study Corridor.

The proposed project will be completely funded by the State of North Carolina; therefore NCDOT will comply with the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA). SEPA requires NCDOT to study the adverse and beneficial social, economic, and natural environment impacts of the project. An Environmental Impact Statement will be developed which will detail the process for developing alternatives, evaluate impacts, and select a preferred alternative.

The Study Corridor of US 64 passes through numerous managed and/or protected local and nationally-recognized areas of environmental concern. The Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge may be impacted, as well as state gamelands managed by the NC Wildlife Resources Commission. Habitats of several threatened and endangered species may also be encountered. In addition, the proposed project will likely impact natural resources that are important to the region, such as wetlands, drainage canals, and wildlife foraging corridors. As such, the project study will involve significant coordination with natural resource agencies such as the US Army Corps of Engineers, US Fish and Wildlife Service, NC Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and others. Measures will be studied to avoid and minimize impact to these important resources. The managed and protected natural resources are shown on the project Environmental Features Maps below.

• Built Environment Map
• Natural Environment Map

More detailed information regarding these resources will be made available as the field investigation phase of the study progresses.

A brief history of events and milestones leading up to re-initiation of the US 64 Improvements study is as follows:

• January 1999 - NCDOT initiated a feasibility study
• April 1999 - A series of meetings were held with local officials
• April 1999 - Information meetings were held in East Lake and Manns Harbor
• June 2002 -Resource and Regulatory Agency meeting
• August 2002 - Further work on the US 64 project was postponed pending completion of a revised Hurricane Evacuation study
• February 6, 2007 - The project study was reinitiated - a scoping meeting was held.
• March 14, 2007 - Public Officials Meeting
• March 14, 2007 - Citizens Informational Workshop was held inviting comments from the general public on tentative project alternatives.
• June 14, 2007 - Merger Meeting - Purpose and Need approved.

Public Involvement is an important component of the US 64 Improvement study. Through this program, interested individuals or groups can participate in the planning process and keep up-to-date on overall project status. Involvement activities will include:

• Newsletters describing the project's status and findings.
• Citizens Informational Workshops to provide an opportunity for the general public to discuss the study and its findings with NCDOT.
• Small Group Meetings with community groups or organizations would be held on an ad hoc basis in response to requests. NCDOT will meet with the group to address specific issues. The organization(s) sponsoring the meeting will be responsible for arranging a meeting location and notifying participants.
• A toll-free project hotline and a dedicated e-mail address provide direct contact between citizens and the study team.

If you have any comments or questions, a Project Hotline has been set up to provide information and answer inquiries. The toll-free number is 1(800) 263-2434. Citizens may also contact the project team via letter or email at the following address:

Mr. Reginald Scales
Consultant Project Manager
PB
909 Aviation Parkway, Suite 1500
Morrisville, NC 27560

Email: US64Improvements@pbworld.com