North Wake News

The North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality's Division of Water Resources has scheduled a public hearing on February 27 at the Currituck County Center. The purpose is to gather public input on the water quality certification application submitted by the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) and the North Carolina Turnpike Authority for the proposed Mid-Currituck Bridge project.

The NCDOT and the N.C. Turnpike Authority are seeking certification to address potential water quality impacts from constructing a 7-mile, two-lane toll road and bridge. This infrastructure would connect the mainland in Currituck County to the Outer Banks near Corolla, North Carolina.

The planned route for this project would link U.S. 158 near Coinjock/Aydlett with N.C. 12 near Corolla. It includes a shorter bridge over Maple Swamp on the mainland and a longer one crossing Currituck Sound.

According to their application, water quality impacts from this proposal involve placing fill material along the west bank of Currituck Sound to stabilize the shoreline where the bridge is planned, as well as in jurisdictional wetlands within Maple Swamp or Great Swamp. The NCDOT and N.C. Turnpike Authority seek certification for permanent wetland impacts covering 1.21 acres and temporary impacts affecting more than 17 acres, along with predicted effects on submerged aquatic vegetation.

Public comments can be submitted during the hearing or sent via mail or email.

Details for attending the public hearing are as follows:

- Date: Thursday, February 27, 2025

- Time: 6 p.m.

- Location: Currituck County Center, 120 Community Way, Barco, NC

- Registration: Opens at 5:30 p.m., onsite sign-in required

Written comments should reach DWR by March 31, 2025, at 5 p.m., either mailed to Garcy Ward at Division of Water Resources, Washington Square Mall, Washington, NC or emailed to publiccomments@deq.nc.gov with "Mid-Currituck Bridge" in the subject line.

Under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act, state certifications are necessary for federally permitted activities that may discharge into navigable waters. The certification process evaluates if projects meet state water quality standards and have minimized impacts on surface waters or wetlands.

NCDOT’s application for this certification is available online under "Mid-Currituck Bridge 401 Application File," and further details can be found in a public notice issued by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wilmington District online under "USACE Public Notice."