New Oregon Inlet Temporary Navigation Channel
 M.J. Baer, U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port, released the following Marine Safety Information Bulletin on Tuesday, July 12, 2022:
The United States Coast Guard has designated span 32, between bents 31 and 32, as a temporary navigation span for the Marc Basnight Bridge (NC-12) over Oregon Inlet, mile 0.5, between Rodanthe and Nags Head, Dare County, NC. Span 34 was previously designated as the temporary navigation span; encroaching shoaling prompted a change in designation for the safety of all boaters.
Span 32 provides a vertical clearance of approximately 49 feet above mean high water and a horizontal clearance of approximately 139 feet. Vessels 100 gross tons or greater shall not transit span 32. Mariners are advised to transit this area with extreme caution and due regard for the reduced navigational clearances, lack of a bridge fender system, and shoaling in the waterway.
If you have questions, please email the Sector North Carolina Waterways Management Division at ncmarineevents@uscg.mil or contact the Sector North Carolina Command Center at 910-343-3882.
Dare County officials recognize the importance of Oregon Inlet and other critical waterways throughout the region remaining open and accessible, and over the years they have taken a proactive approach to searching for a long-term solution to the serious challenges associated with shoaling.
Among Dare County’s many efforts to safeguard the livelihoods of Outer Banks fishermen and the local economy are the creation of the Dare County Waterways Commission as well as the development of a new dredge, named the "Miss Katie,” that will be used to combat shoaling issues in Dare County waterways once its construction is complete in the summer of 2022.
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