State officials schedule December meeting on proposed 125-acre reef using materials from aging bridge

MANTEO — Portions of the aging Alligator River Bridge could eventually become underwater habitat for fish in Albemarle Sound, giving the structure a new purpose after decades of carrying motorists between Tyrrell and Dare counties.

The North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries is proposing a 125-acre artificial reef approximately 3.5 miles northeast of the mouth of the Alligator River. The reef would be constructed using debris from the existing Lindsay C. Warren Bridge, which is being replaced by a new high-rise span along U.S. 64.

State officials have scheduled a public informational meeting for 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, at the College of the Albemarle in Manteo to discuss the proposal.

The project would turn materials from one of northeastern North Carolina’s most significant transportation projects into habitat intended to benefit fish populations and recreational fishing.

Construction began in February 2025 on the replacement of the Lindsay C. Warren Bridge, a critical transportation link connecting Columbia and Tyrrell County with Manns Harbor, Manteo and the Outer Banks.

The existing bridge, built in 1960, uses a movable swing span that must open to accommodate marine traffic. Its replacement will be a modern, two-lane, fixed-span bridge constructed just north of the current crossing.

The new structure will feature two 12-foot travel lanes, 8-foot shoulders and 65 feet of vertical clearance over the navigation channel, allowing boats to pass underneath without interrupting highway traffic.

The existing bridge is scheduled to be removed after the replacement opens to traffic, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation.

The proposed artificial reef would provide a potential destination for some of the materials recovered during that demolition.

Artificial reefs are constructed underwater using materials such as concrete, rock and other durable structures to provide habitat in areas where the bottom is relatively flat or lacks natural features.

According to the Division of Marine Fisheries, the structures provide spawning, shelter and feeding areas for fish and other aquatic organisms.

The proposed Albemarle Sound reef would be located near coordinates 35° 59.334′ N, 75° 56.137′ W, which is in the Albemarle Sound, north of Dare County.

The project would add to North Carolina’s existing network of 72 artificial reefs, including 29 in estuarine waters and 43 in the ocean.

The state has previously used demolished bridge materials to expand its artificial reef system.

One of the largest examples involved the former Herbert C. Bonner Bridge over Oregon Inlet. Following construction of its replacement, approximately 80,000 tons of concrete from the old bridge were transported in 68 barge loads to eight artificial reef sites. The work was completed in 2022.

The Albemarle Sound proposal would follow a similar approach, although state officials have not yet announced how much bridge material would be used or when construction of the reef might begin.

The Division of Marine Fisheries will hold its informational meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 3, in Room 110 at the College of the Albemarle, 205 U.S. 64, Manteo.

The meeting will focus on the proposed reef site, which has been identified as AR-195.

Additional information is available through the N.C. Division of Marine Fisheries Artificial Reef Program.

Residents seeking more information may contact Jordan Byrum at 252-515-5481 or Jordan.Byrum@deq.nc.gov.