Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
over the Croatan Sound
Croatan Sound
Croatan Sound is an inlet in Dare County, North Carolina. It connects Pamlico Sound with Albemarle Sound, and is bordered to the east by Roanoke Island; Roanoke Sound is on the other side of the island. Its name comes from the Croatan Indians who once inhabited the area.The Croatan Sound is crossed...
. The four-lane bridge carries U.S. Highway 64 Bypass from Manns Harbor
Manns Harbor, North Carolina
Manns Harbor is an unincorporated community in Dare County, North Carolina, United States. Located east of the intersection of US 64 and US 264; it is nestled along eastern bank of the Croatan Sound. Before 1957, Manns Harbor used to harbor a ferry that traversed the Croatan Sound and provided...
to Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island
Roanoke Island is an island in Dare County near the coast of North Carolina, United States. It was named after the historical Roanoke Carolina Algonquian people who inhabited the area in the 16th century at the time of English exploration....
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
. The bridge provides express access from the North Carolina mainland to the Outer Banks
Outer Banks
The Outer Banks is a 200-mile long string of narrow barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina, beginning in the southeastern corner of Virginia Beach on the east coast of the United States....
communities. It was named after Virginia Dare
Virginia Dare
Virginia Dare was the first child born in the Americas to English parents, Eleanor and Ananias Dare. She was born into the short-lived Roanoke Colony in what is now North Carolina, USA. What became of Virginia and the other colonists remains a mystery...
, 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.
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
Manteo, North Carolina
Manteo is a town in Dare County, North Carolina, United States, located on Roanoke Island. The population was 1,052 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dare County.-Geography:...
; 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.