CHERRY BRANCH – The North Carolina Ferry Division has been awarded a $28.2 million federal grant to make critical improvements at the Cherry Branch Ferry Terminal in Craven County.
The funding comes through the Federal Transit Administration’s Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program, one of three federal programs that support ferry systems across the country. The program provides competitive funding to states to help ensure that essential ferry service remains available in rural communities.
The Cherry Branch project will replace approximately 2,750 linear feet of severely deteriorated steel bulkhead at the terminal. The bulkhead is an important part of the terminal’s infrastructure, helping protect the shoreline and support safe ferry operations.
“This investment is about more than replacing aging infrastructure,” said Ferry Division Director Jed Dixon. “It will help ensure the Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach route remains safe and reliable for the communities and travelers who depend on it, and prepare it to meet future transportation needs.”
The total cost of the project is estimated at $35.2 million. The federal grant will cover $28.2 million of that cost, requiring approximately $7 million in state funding.
By securing federal funding for most of the project, the Ferry Division will be able to complete these major improvements using state funds for a fraction of the project’s overall cost. That allows limited state transportation funding to go further and helps preserve resources for other Ferry Division projects and regional transportation needs.
Design on the replacement project is expected to begin next year.