03/28/2024
NC DOT
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NC DOTThere is an air of excitement in Bladen County surrounding the upcoming total solar eclipse which will take place on Monday, August 21. This will be the first time in 99 years such an event has occurred. The NC Department of Transportation is asking motorists to be vigilant on the roadways before and after the eclipse.

Large numbers of people are expected to make their way toward the path of the total eclipse in North Carolina and points south.

Safe driving behavior before, during and after the eclipse is important. The N.C. Department of Transportation encourages travelers to:

*Arrive Early
**Stay Put
Leave Late

View more safety tips online at ncdot.gov.

Speed Limit Changes for the Birds

With the annual purple martin roost reaching its mid-summer peak in Manns Harbor, NCDOT has lowered speed limits at dusk and dawn on the William B. Umstead Bridge, locally known as the Old Manns Harbor Bridge.

From mid-July through August, the west end of the bridge on Croatan Sound becomes home to more than 100,000 purple martins as they prepare for their annual migration to Brazil. The birds roost under the bridge at night, departing at dawn to feed and returning at sunset. The flock is so large during its peak that it can be seen on Doppler radar.

For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on NCDOT.gov.

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