Oregon Inlet too shallow for dredge

Published 8:42 pm Friday, December 14, 2012

Crews have stopped clearing the Oregon Inlet at the Bonner Bridge because it’s too shallow for dredges.

The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Va., reported that strong north winds made the inlet too shallow.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officials said Thursday that a side-casting dredge isn’t able to work the channel as planned. The corp says depths at the navigation span under the bridge are only 2 feet.

The statement says the corps doesn’t own an ocean pipeline dredge, the only mechanism able to work in such shallow waters. The agency doesn’t have money to contract for an ocean pipeline dredge.

Meanwhile, the dredge will be on standby in Wanchese until crews take another survey Monday.