Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks
It was recently announced that the replacement for Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks has run into delays, but local OBX and NC state officials are making a push to allow for the replacement of the troubled bridge.
The Bonner Bridge, spanning the Oregon Inlet on North Carolina’s Outer Banks, is in need of repairs and/or replacement. As with most major projects of this magnitude, the process is complicated, especially considering the environmental impact the project could have on the pristine Cape Hatteras National Seashore.
State Lawmakers have begun a letter writing campaign that is pressing for the replacement of the Bonner Bridge. Earlier this year, the Federal Highway Administration decided that another environmental review would be needed in order to keep the project moving forward. In response to the delays, Senator Mark Basnight and state Rep Tim Spear took charge in urging the members of the state delegation to intervene to get the project under way. A letter urging action went to two US Senators and all of its Representatives. The letter was also sent to Gov. Bev Purdue. The Letter urged the EPA and the Army Corps to allow construction to begin immediately. Here is an excerpt from the letter:
“The Congress and federal officials are responsible for creating this complex and repetitive maze of bureaucracy. And it is the Congress and the federal government that must remove this barrier — the last obstacle to replacing this vital lifeline to Hatteras Island that continues to deteriorate more with every passing day.”
