DESIGNED FOR DURABILITY

摘要

The Marc Basnight Bridge, completed this year, replaces the existing Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, a 2.4 mi long structure that carried North Carolina Highway 12 over the Oregon Inlet. The new bridge, which is slightly longer at 2.8 mi, features extensive use of precast concrete for durability, economy, and constructability; a first-of-its-kind driven pile foundation verification method; and innovative, environmentally sensitive construction approaches.THE OUTER BANKS consist of a series of barrier islands off the coast of North Carolina; the area is essentially a 200 mi long series of sandbars several miles offshore. Featuring beautiful beaches, historic lighthouses, and abundant natural flora and fauna, the Outer Banks have been a recreational destination for decades. Isolated from the mainland by Pamlico Sound, the Outer Banks were originally reachable only by boat. By the early 20th century, ferries facilitated automobile access. In the mid- to late-20th century, the North Carolina Highway Department (now the North Carolina Department of Transportation [NCDOT]) constructed several viaduct bridges to improve access to the many popular tourist destinations in the area.