Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge

Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge
Carries	US 64
Crosses	Croatan Sound
Locale	Manteo, North Carolina
Design	concrete segmented girder
Total length	5.2 miles (8.4 km)
Opened	August 16, 2002
Coordinates	35°54′07″N 75°43′57″W / 35.90186°N 75.73245°W / 35.90186; -75.73245Coordinates: 35°54′07″N 75°43′57″W / 35.90186°N 75.73245°W / 35.90186; -75.73245

The Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge is the newest, longest, and widest bridge over the Croatan Sound. The four-lane bridge carries U.S. Highway 64 Bypass from Manns Harbor to Roanoke Island in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The bridge provides express access from the North Carolina mainland to the Outer Banks communities. It was named after Virginia Dare, the first child born in the Americas to English parents, who resided on the Roanoke Island colony. At a length of 5.2 miles, the Dare Bridge is the longest in the state. It was constructed with nearly 44,000 tons of deck concrete, 72 concrete columns, and 2,368 piles.^[1]

The Dare Bridge succeeded the old William B. Umstead Bridge, which was previously the only crossing over the Croatan Sound. The Umstead Bridge continues to serve as a segment of U.S. Highway 64, which goes through the town of Manteo; the Dare Bridge bypasses this town on U.S. Highway 64 Bypass.

The second crossing over the sound was constructed to alleviate traffic congestion along the old Umstead Bridge and through Manteo, as well as to provide a safer and more efficient hurricane evacuation route for Outer Banks residents and visitors.

References

1. ^ Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge Dedication