COLUMBIA, NC — Skanska has been awarded a $450 million contract to build a new fixed-span, high-rise bridge that will replace the current 2.8-mile-long Lindsay C. Warren Bridge over the Alligator River, connecting Tyrrell and Dare counties in North Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Transportation bridge replacement project represents a significant infrastructure upgrade that will enhance access to the Outer Banks and improve hurricane evacuation capabilities.

As one of only two highway corridors to the Outer Banks, the new bridge will be constructed north of the current bridge and serve as a reliable access point for residents and visitors of North Carolina’s eastern counties. With more than 4,000 boats passing through annually, the modern fixed-span, high-rise design will eliminate mechanical delays and disruptions for travelers by allowing both marine and vehicular traffic to flow unimpeded.

This will improve travel times and safety for cars, bikes, and pedestrians along a primary east-west route. The new bridge will feature two 12-foot travel lanes, 8-foot breakdown lanes on each side, 65 feet of clearance over the navigation channel, and 4.5-foot safety railings.

Construction is scheduled to begin January 2025 with the full contract scope expected to be completed in the spring of 2030. The new bridge structure is anticipated to be completed in 2028. The existing bridge will remain operational during construction to minimize impact on local road and marine traffic.