A popular fishing spot on the U.S. 64 causeway in Nags Head is no longer available, as the catwalk along the north side of the Melvin Daniels Bridge has been closed to all access.
The N.C. Department of Transportation has erected fences at each end of the walkway. On Tuesday, they removed the crosswalk at Melvin Daniels Park next to the western landing of what’s more commonly referred to as “The Little Bridge”.
“Safety is always NCDOT’s number one priority, so a determination was made that the catwalk on the north side of the bridge was a hazard that the department had to correct,” said NCDOT spokesperson Tim Hass.
A number of vehicle crashes, mostly rear-end collisions, have been reported at or near the crosswalk since it was installed several years ago.
Hass said Wednesday the speed limit on U.S. 64 will be reduced from 50 to 45 miles per hour from the Washington Baum Bridge to Whalebone Junction.
“Luckily, there has not been a serious accident or injury, but it would only be a matter of time before there would be a serious injury, or worse, a fatality, at this location,” Hass said.
“As a result the best solution was the removal of the crosswalk, and all signage and road markings associated with it,” Hass said.
Crews also erected new guardrails leading to the bridge on Tuesday to help prevent people from crossing the highway from the park.
No Parking signs have been installed on the east side of the bridge along the Roanoke Sound shoreline.
That particular area has been a hot spot for catching speckled trout and other fish because of deep water immediately adjacent to the rocks.
The south side catwalk remains open for fishing, as does a small pier adjacent to the restrooms at Daniels Park. A N.C. coastal recreational or joint waters fishing license is required.
Hass said the department invested significant time and effort into trying to find a solution that would provide an acceptable amount of safety for motorists and pedestrians.
“Unfortunately, no other workable solution was found,” Hass said.
