Description

Project to widen the 27.3-mile segment of US 64 from Columbia (Tyrrell County) to US 264 (Dare County near Manns Harbor) and replace the Lindsay C. Warren Bridge across the Alligator River.

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
The project Draft Environmental Impact Statement is now complete and is available for public review. The DEIS may be reviewed on-line below, and at the following locations:

• DEIS Cover-Summary-TOC
• DEIS Chapters
• DEIS Figures
• DEIS Appendix
• Tyrrell County Public Library, Columbia, NC
• Tyrrell County Administration Office, Columbia, NC
• Dare County Library, Manteo, NC
• Dare County Public Clerk’s Office, Manteo, NC
• NCDOT Resident Engineer’s Office, Manteo, NC

News and Updates

Public Hearings and Pre-Hearing workshops - Two Public Hearings and Pre-Hearing workshops on the project have been scheduled:

Project Overview and Purpose

The NCDOT has prepared a detailed Purpose and Need statement for the project. The primary purposes of the project follow:

• 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.
• Reduce US 64 hurricane evacuation time to better meet state clearance goals in the project study area.
• Maintain/improve a bridge across the Alligator River that meets the needs of highway users.

Project Highlights

To date, the key points in the decision-making process for the US 64 Improvements Project are:

• Key Points prior to 2011
• October 4, 2011 – Community Meeting in East Lake
• October 5, 2011 –Community Meeting in Alligator
• 2009 to 2011 – Perform Detailed Study of Widening and New Location Corridor Alternatives
• 2011 to 2012 – Prepare Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
• January 11, 2012 – DEIS Signed

The link below contains the process flow chart for the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and North Carolina Department of Transportation Merger 01.

• NEPA EIS and NCDOT Merger Process Flow

Project Information

• Alternatives Development and Selection
• Human and Natural Environmental Impacts Brief
• Contact List of Agency Merger Team Members
• Laws that Affect Alternatives Development and Selection
• Citizens Guide to the NEPA
• What is the Merger Process?

Public Involvement

Public Involvement is an important component of the US 64 Improvements Project, as it enables interested individuals and groups to participate in the planning process and keep up-to-date on overall project status. Public Involvement activities include:

• Newsletter describing the project status and findings.
• Citizens Informational Workshops. These provide the opportunity for the general public to discuss the project and its study findings with NCDOT.
• Small Group Meetings with community groups or organizations. These may be held on an ad hoc basis in response to requests. NCDOT will meet with groups to address specific issues. The organization(s) sponsoring such meetings arrange for the meeting location and notify participants.
• A toll-free project hotline and a dedicated e-mail address. These provide direct contact between citizens and the Project Study Team.

Contact Information

Resources for Local Property Owners

In many cases, it is inevitable that a certain amount of private property must be acquired. The displacement of homes and businesses is minimized to the extent practicable. The following brochures will answer questions about this process.