Manns Harbor, NC. – (NCDOT) The North Carolina Department of Transportation Ferry division announced that it will be testing the waters again of its original “short route” in Hatteras Inlet this week, after an Army Corps of Engineers dredge departs the area Monday.
Engineers have been working on the ferry channel since May 26, but later discovered the original route was still not deep enough for ferries to navigate safely.
Hatteras Inlet ferry service was forced onto a longer “alternate” route back in December when continued shoaling in the inlet made the traditional not travel ready. The alternate ferry route is about one hour each way, a little more than 15 minutes longer than the traditional route.
NCDOT, Ferry Division Director Ed Goodwin said, “If our test runs show the original channel is once again safe to operate, we will take immediate action to return to that route, but safety is always our top priority, and if the short route is still unsafe, we will continue to serve our passengers as best we can on the alternate route.”
LaZashley Taylor
