The North Carolina Department of Transportation begins service of the Currituck – Knotts Island ferry on Wednesday, September 16. NCDOT had suspended operations of the vehicle and passenger ferry since April 1 because of COVID-19 concerns.
Use of the Currituck – Knotts Island ferry remains free for passengers and vehicles. The ferry’s daily schedule is as follows:
Departing from Currituck at 6:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:45 p.m.
Departing from Knotts Island at 6:50 a.m., 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., and 4:45 p.m.
Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, all passengers will be asked to remain in their vehicles or stand at least six feet from other people while on board.
Currituck County welcomed high-ranking officials of the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018 for a discussion on local transportation needs. Julie White, Deputy Secretary for Multimodal Transportation, and Jonathan Arnold, Deputy Director/Manager of Airport Development, along with NCDOT Division One Engineer Jerry Jennings, met with elected officials and county staff at the Regional Aviation and Technical Training Center in Community Park.
The meeting afforded Currituck County an opportunity to promote certain transportation projects and discuss future improvements to the local transportation infrastructure. Projects desired by Currituck County include a rehabilitation of the runway at Currituck Regional Airport, replacement of the airport’s runway lights, continued improvements to the Highway 158/168 corridor, and construction of the Mid-Currituck Bridge. The county also discussed Connect Currituck, a long-range plan to improve the connectivity of neighborhoods on mainland Currituck through the use of pedestrian sidewalks and trails, as well as continued expansion of the Corolla Greenway multi-use pedestrian and bicycling path that runs along NC 12 on the Outer Banks.
Currituck County Commissioners Mike Payment and Paul Beaumont spoke to the need of NCDOT becoming an active partner with the county to help fund improvement projects so Currituck is able to keep up with future growth. A short video, prepared by county staff, featured Commissioner Bobby Hanig speaking to the many modes of transportation available in Currituck and the need to ease traffic congestion on Highway 158/168 during the peak summer vacation season. County officials and staff also stressed the need to be proactive in regards to county growth, economic development, and the successful tourism industry.
Dr. Robert Wynegar, President of the College of the Albemarle, was present to help highlight the successful partnership of Currituck County and COA in providing job training courses in aviation-related fields at the Regional Aviation and Technical Training Center. Following the discussion, Mrs. White and Mr. Arnold toured the facility to see first-hand the opportunities available for local students.
Currituck County enjoys a wide-ranging transportation system that includes the five-lane Highway 158/168, Currituck Regional Airport, NCDOT’s Currituck-Knotts Island Ferry, Intracoastal Waterway, four-wheel drive sand roads in Carova, and the Corolla Greenway. In addition, a railroad line provides a shipping option for local businesses. Currituck’s long-range plans will continue to address improvements in all modes of the transportation system in order to safely and effectively move citizens and visitors throughout the county.
