John Sutherland 919-715-5446
December 17, 1999
Maintenance Dredging of Manteo Channels to Begin

RALEIGH - Maintenance dredging of the Manteo to Wanchese Navigation Channel and the North Channel will begin the week of December 19th and last about 90 days.

This dredging will restore the navigability and safety of these channels. Shoals have recently made the North Channel hazardous; several boats have run aground and incurred significant damage. The Elizabeth II has also run aground in the Manteo to Wanchese Channel.

The project, which will be the first complete maintenance of these channels since 1985, was originally supposed to begin on November 1st, but was delayed due to hurricanes Dennis, Floyd and Irene and equipment repairs.

The North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources has hired Cottrell Contracting Company of Chesapeake, Virginia to perform the work. The hydraulic dredge Marion will begin work in Manteo Harbor and then dredge the Manteo to Wanchese Channel in Shallowbag Bay and in Roanoke Sound south to Baum Bridge. Cottrell will use three shifts of workers to operate the dredge 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Boaters should use extreme caution when they need to go around the dredge, passing it on the north side as the pipeline will leave the dredge from the south side. They should also watch out for the anchors and wire that the dredge uses. It is recommended that boaters obtain instructions from the dredge via channels 13 or 16 on marine radio before passing.

The 400,000 cubic yards of material dredged from this section will be placed in four upland disposal sites located next to the new highway approach being constructed on Roanoke Island just east of the intersection of Highways US 64-264 and NC 345. The dredge will pump a slurry of water and sediment to the disposal sites through a 14-inch pipeline.

Cottrell plans to bring a second hydraulic dredge, the Richmond, to Manteo in January to dredge the North Channel, which runs from Shallowbag Bay north around the end of Roanoke Island. Approximately 125,000 cubic yards of sandy material will be pumped to nourish the beach in the Town of Nags Head in the area of Soundside Road.

The Richmond will also dredge a section of the Manteo to Wanchese Channel south of Baum Bridge. The 75,000 cubic yards of sandy material from that area will be pumped to Nags Head beach in the vicinity of Whalebone Junction.

Boaters should pass the Richmond on the west side as the pipeline will run from the east side. Again, they should get instructions from the dredge by using channels 13 or 16 on marine radio. The Manteo to Wanchese Channel will be dredged to a depth of 12 feet mean low water while the North Channel will be dredged to a depth of 10 feet mlw. The total cost of this project will be approximately $3,500,000 and will be paid entirely by the State of North Carolina.

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