Thursday, December 13, 2007

Altered Ferry Schedules

I was recently sent the following press release re. altered ferry schedules in early 2008. As many of our readers know, a portion of Highway 12 will be closed from Jan 02 - Mar 15, 2008 while the NCDOT replaces all seven bridges between the campground and the pony pen. The NPS will open a beach access ramp at the pony pen to allow 4WD vehicles to drive on the beach in that area where the road is closed.

If you live on Ocracoke, or are planning a trip to the island during the first 75 days of 2008 you might want to print this schedule.

"Press Release, October 14, 2007
Ferry Schedules Altered during Ocracoke Beach Detour Project

To help accommodate traffic to and from Ocracoke during the bridge replacement project this winter, the NC Ferry Division has approved a schedule affecting Cedar Island, Swan Quarter, and Hatteras routes to Ocracoke.

According to a memorandum from Charlie Fearing, NC Ferry Division I, the Hatteras runs will be as follows:

A vessel will leave each side at 5 am and run every other hour from each side until 9 pm. The last vessel will leave Hatteras and tie up at Ocracoke and be in place for an emergency over night.

Example:
Leave Ocracoke
5 am
6 am
8 am (etc…)
8 pm – last run

Leave Hatteras
5 am
7 am
9 am (etc…)
9 pm – last run

The Ocracoke/Swan Quarter run will be the same as the summer schedule:

Leaving Ocracoke: 6:30 am, 10 am, 12:30 pm, and 4 pm
Leaving Swan Quarter: 7 am, 9:30 am, 1 pm, and 4 pm

*Tolls will be waived on the Ocracoke/Swan Quarter run.

The Ocracoke/Cedar Island run will follow the newly adopted winter schedule:

Leaving Ocracoke: 7 am, 10:30 am, 2 pm, and 5 pm.
Leaving CedarIsland: 7 am, 10:30 am, 2 pm, and 5 pm.

The Tuesday 7 am ferry from Swan Quarter to Ocracoke will be designated for LP Gas and gasoline trucks.

The Tuesday and Wednesday 4 pm ferries from Ocracoke to Swan Quarter will be designated for their return. This will limit the passengers allowed on the vessel as per USCG.

Please plan accordingly.This schedule will be in place from January 2 to March 15, 2008 unless otherwise notified."

Our latest Newsletter is about the old Howard cemetery on British Cemetery Road. You can read the stories here.

2 comments:

  1. Anonymous6:04 PM

    I can honestly say...
    I'm not too upset about missing all of the crazyness that is going to go along with the fixing of the bridges!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous8:41 PM

    Don't forget that the tides can be high this time of year. A friend recently said the the tide was to the dunes on a recent run through the beach detour which makes passage impossible at times when the conditions are right.

    ReplyDelete