The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-09-22
OREGON INLET
BRIDGE HEARING
SET FOR OCT. l8
Corps Of Engineers TO Hold Public
Hearing in Manteo to Hear
Complaints if Any As Plans
by Highway Commission

by HIghwdy Commission
Plans for a highway bridge
across Oregon Inlet have been SUBJ
nitted to the Corp of Engineers by
he State Highway Commission,
Ind the Engineers will hold a pub
ic hearing in Manteo on October
8 at ten a. m. to hear from any
interests who may be opposed to
he proposed location or specifica-
lions.
The bridge, as proposed, would
be built in slightly semi-circular
form, starting from the north shore
IL the inlet, to the east of the Ore
ION Inlet Fishing Center, and would
|un southwardly for half its length,
turning toward the east and would
DIN land again about 1900 feet to
he southwest of the Oregon Inlet
coast Guard station, continuing to
IN intersecting point with the Hat
eras Highway, about 1000 feet
outheast of the Station. The total
length of the bridge is nearly 49,
poo feet, or more than two and
three quarters miles. 10 @
It Is not contemplated having an
bpen draw, but a fixed span over
The channel, 100 #. wide with a
horizontal clearance Of IS feet
Rbove mean water. This may meet
objection from navigation interests,
n that such a structure would for
Fver bar vessels with very tall
nasts from entering the inlet in
went of storm.
The water is mostly shallow in
he area, the deepest places being
P6 feet. Minimum clearance in the
approach spans is to be Is #. above
mean high water.
Cdr. P. Davidson has issued mo-
ice AZ follows concerning the meet
ing in Manteo:
'The application of the NORTH
CAROLINA STATE HIGHWAY
COMMISSION, for approval of
plans to construct fixed bridge
Ecross OREGON INLET in DARE
COUNTY, N. c., will be considered
1t a public hearing on the subject,
o be held by the undersigned at
fanteo, N. c., in the Dare County
Courtroom at 1000 am. EST, on 10
October 1861.
"All interested parties are invit-
I'D to be present or to be represent
I'D at the above time and place, par
icularly the officials of any county,
Pity, town, or local association
whose interests may be affected by
he proposed work. They will be
given opportunity to express their
'iews upon the suitability of the
ocation and the adequacy of the
plans in reference to navigation,
md to suggest changes considered
desirable.
"Oral statements will be Heard,
put for accuracy. of record all
important facts and arguments
should be submitted in writing, in
Huintuplicate, as the records of the
hearing will be forwarded for con-
federation by the Department of the
Army. Written statements may be
Undersigned at the hearing or mail
I'd to him beforehand.
The plans submitted by the APP
Plicants show a fixed highway
bridge with a horizontal clearance
Pf $50 feet and vertical clearance
pr IS feet above mean high water
in the navigation channel"
Representative Herbert C. Bon
her recently introduced a bill to
authorize the Department of the
Interior TO pay one-fourth of the
post OF the construction of a bridge
Pcross Oregon Inlet. Mr.. Bonner
had met with officials of the De-
partment and pointed out the value
bible the National Seashore Park
bf the bridge in making more access
hrea. He had also contacted Mer-
FI Evans, Chairman Of the North
Carolina State Highway Commits
Fion, who is enthusiastic in his
approval. This is the only National
Park within the United States
wherein the State Highway Com
mission of that state built and
maintains the roads within the
park area. The dream of bridging
Oregon Inlet had been long en-