By Connie Leinbach
A large number of locals turned out on May 22 to view possibilities of whether to move the South Dock ferry terminal at the north end of the island or rehabilitate it.
The presentation by the N.C. Ferry Division showed three possible options for relocating the north-end ferry terminal and one to improve the current terminal area. See photos at end.
As the study moves forward, new concepts may also be considered, according to the website about the project: https://publicinput.com/southdock.
Comments during the current phase of the project are being taken through June 6, and can be made directly on the website (above), phone or email: southdock@publicinput.com. By phone, call 855-925-2801 and enter project code 11113 to leave a message.
South Dock, while it’s at the north end of Ocracoke, is so called because it’s the southern terminus from Hatteras.
Sections of N.C. Highway 12 on Ocracoke Island often experience ocean overwash and flooding during storms or high tides, which leads to road closures and damage.
Additionally, the northern end of the island near the South Dock ferry terminal has faced serious erosion, causing the loss of vehicle stacking lanes and the septic system for the visitor restrooms.
The website asks visitors to vote yes or no on the four concepts (shown in the photos) and to make comments.
The study made no recommendations about the overwash area on N.C. 12 at the north end.
Two of the concepts propose changes in the ferry terminal area in the village.
Concept 1 makes modifications to the current ferry docking area and Concept 2 modifies the area at the NPS boat ramp for additional ferry docking.
Concept 3 creates a new terminal through the Hammock Hills maritime forest across from the NPS campground, and Concept 4 retains South Dock but enlarges the stacking area that now extends down into N.C. 12.
Ferry Division Director Jed Dixon, along with several other officials, attended the meeting to get public opinion as part of the process.
“All of the concepts are conceptual,” he said. “We’d have to get permitting and funding.”
Right now, the only funding is for this study, he said.
He said that the ferry ride from Hatteras to the proposed Devil Shoals site would be two hours and 15 minutes. The ride to the Silver Lake area would be two hours and 45 minutes.
As for Concept 4, while the old stacking lanes have been destroyed by erosion leading to cars snaking for a mile down N.C, 12, Dixon said that agencies he has talked to have been willing to explore extending the bulkhead beyond where it ends to stop further erosion there.
The impediment is that North Carolina prohibits hardened structures in the ocean, and the end of old stacking lanes are right where the inlet ends and the ocean begins.
“A lot would have to happen for any of these to be approved,” Dixon said. “We’ve got some challenges ahead.”
John Rouse of HDR Inc., the company that conducted the study, said that islanders told him that, as for Concept 3, the sound off Devil Shoals is often only waist deep or less and would require extensive and constant dredging.
Concept 4 is the only one people have liked, he said.
“We all love Ocracoke,” he said. “So, we’re going to figure something out.”
Do not like version 3 would prefer option 1 or 2 at Silver Lake
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