RALEIGH – Ferry service for the public has resumed for several more coastal routes, and two state ferries arrived in Southport last week after traveling 14 hours down the Intracoastal Waterway carrying much-needed fuel, transportation workers and supplies to the Wilmington area.
The N.C. Department of Transportation’s Ferry Division has reopened coastal service along the following routes:
- Southport to Fort Fisher routes resumed Wednesday on a limited schedule for Brunswick County residents and essential vendors, people with critical medical and commerce responsibilities, and infrastructure support personnel. NCDOT will announce when service for visitors resumes.
- Cherry Branch to Minnesott Beach ferry service resumed Wednesday for daytime trips only.
- Bayview to Aurora ferry services resumed Tuesday evening.
- Currituck to Knotts Island ferry service resumed full service on Sept. 15.
- Swan Quarter to Ocracoke Island ferry service resumed on a limited schedule for essential personnel and residents on Sept. 16. The ferry is now making five trips a day between Swan Quarter and Ocracoke. Ferry service for tourists visiting Ocracoke Island is scheduled to resume on Friday morning.
- Cedar Island to Ocracoke resumed limited service for essential personnel and residents of Ocracoke on Tuesday and will resume service for tourists on Friday.
For a full schedule of all ferry routes, visit NCDOT’s Ferry Division webpage.
All routes must be deemed safe and must have approval from the U.S. Coast Guard before the NCDOT Ferry Division can resume service for the public. NCDOT will notify the public as soon as those decisions have been made.
The ferry service between Hatteras and Ocracoke Island is being used to shuttle essential emergency responders from Hyde County and NCDOT workers and transportation equipment to help clear N.C. 12, which was damaged and made impassable on the northern end of Ocracoke Island.
As in past storms, some ferries are also being used to carry needed supplies to impacted areas with limited access by road. The M/V Southport and M/V Fort Fisher, which are vessels normally stationed at Southport, were moved to safe harbor in Cherry Branch before Hurricane Florence made landfall near Wrightsville Beach on Sept. 14. On Tuesday morning, the two ferries started a 14-hour trek back to Southport carrying fuel, transportation employees and equipment to help clear roads in the Wilmington area. The two ferries arrived late Tuesday night.
2-1-1 Call Line Open 24/7 for People in Need of Help
The statewide information line can provide callers with nearby shelter, housing and other storm-related details. Dial 2-1-1 or 888-892-1162, or text Florence to 898211. The information line is staffed around the clock to connect North Carolinians to storm resources.
Donations
The North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund is available for donations to support North Carolina’s response to Hurricane Florence. To donate, visit governor.nc.gov or text FLORENCE to 20222.
For More Information
Download the Ready NC app, visit ncdps.gov/Florence or follow NC Emergency Management on Facebook and Twitter.
NCDOT Waives Fees for State Ferries
RALEIGH – The N.C. Department of Transportation Secretary Jim Trogdon has waived all ferry tolls for people using the coastal vessels.
Ocracoke Island reopened Friday to the public for the first time since Hurricane Florence prompted an evacuation more than a week ago. Tolls were waived on all routes until further notice due to impacts to the region.
NCDOT’s Cedar Island and Swan Quarter routes, both of which deliver people to Ocracoke Village, are operating on a limited schedule. The Hatteras Inlet ferry, has not yet been cleared for public service. A revised ferry schedule can be found on the NCDOT website.
Also on Friday, Hyde County announced it would be activating its tram service in Ocracoke to help with walk on traffic from the ferries. It is free to use and available to anyone who would like to use it. The tram service will be in operation starting at 1 p.m. tomorrow. Ocracoke visitors unable to secure a reservation on the ferries can park vehicles at the ferry terminal and walk on instead. The trams are part of the new passenger ferry service that will be coming to Ocracoke in the future.
The village of Ocracoke escaped significant damage from Florence, but N.C. 12 on the northern part of the island was damaged.
After the storm passed, the department used its Hatteras-Ocracoke ferry to take workers and equipment to Ocracoke to start clearing sand-covered N.C. 12. Since then, NCDOT has secured an emergency contract to repair damaged pavement and reconstruct a protective dune next to N.C. 12, which serves as the main thoroughfare for Ocracoke and the rest of the Outer Banks.
Depending on the weather, NCDOT expects pavement repairs to be completed by Sept. 28 so N.C. 12 can be reopened to traffic. NCDOT will use temporary traffic control while reconstructing the dune, which is due for completion by Nov. 30.
Once N.C. 12 can be opened to traffic, the Hatteras ferry route will open to the public.
Editor’s note: It is the policy of the Richmond Observer to print news release material in its original format, as it was received, with minimal, if any, editorial adjustments.
