The existing swing span that crosses the Trent River had reached its useful life and the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) contracted HNTB to provide the expertise to help them with the development of replacement alternatives and the final design for the new movable structure. The outcome of the completion of the Categorical Exclusion document and stakeholder outreach found that the most suitable alternate would be a double leaf trunnion bascule bridge that is situated in picturesque, historic New Bern. The replacement structure needed to maintain the historic character of its surroundings and provide some connection with the previous structure as well. This paper will go into the examination and explanation of the details and materials used for the structure, various components, and more specifically the control house. The discussion will show how their selection helped to meet the project requirements. The control house will be emphasized since this is the most prominent portion of the structure.
