CHERRY BRANCH, N.C. – The N.C. Ferry Division has secured a $28.2 million federal grant for major repairs at the Cherry Branch Ferry Terminal in Craven County.
The Federal Transit Administration award will cover most of a $35.2 million project to replace about 2,750 linear feet of severely deteriorated steel bulkhead at the terminal, according to the N.C. Department of Transportation. The bulkhead protects the shoreline and supports safe ferry operations.
North Carolina is expected to provide approximately $7 million in state funding for the project. The federal money comes through the Ferry Service for Rural Communities Program, which supports ferry systems serving rural areas.
NCDOT said design work is expected to begin in 2027. The agency did not announce a construction start date or completion schedule.
The Cherry Branch-Minnesott Beach route crosses the Neuse River and serves communities and travelers in Eastern North Carolina. The new award gives the Ferry Division federal support for a major capital repair while reducing the amount that must come from state transportation funds.