NORTH CAROLINA'S LONG CROSSING IMPROVES STORM ESCAPE ROUTE

North Carolina's longest bridge is nearly completed and will cut 15 miles off travel between Roanoke Island and the north end of Dade County, easing congestion for regular traffic and aiding hurricane evacuations. It is 5.2 miles long and was built with a bulb tee girder system. To avoid disturbing wetlands on either shore, construction crews used special cranes and a trestle system to transfer girders and pilings to shallow locations. An innovative vacuum system was used to remove spoil created when pilings were placed.