New Outer Banks Bridge Could See Further Delays

Posted on July 13, 2010

Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks

A new bridge to replace the failing Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks is running into the potential for further delays.

The 2.5 mile Bonner Bridge linking northern Outer Banks to Hatteras Island opened in 1963 and was designed to last 30 years; quick math ends the lifespan in 1993…17 years ago! Over the years, the bridge has been battered by strong currents, even stronger storms and damaging saltwater. The structure is in need of replacement, but the approval process has been slow, to say the least.

The bridge is currently rated poor, but the state has spent millions for repairs to keep the span safe until it is replaced. However, even these repairs have a lifespan that ends around 2017.

Planning for the replacement began 20 years ago, but the project has been slowed by environmental challenges, government agency disagreements, controversy about the design, and threats of lawsuits. An environmental assessment was released in May, and most people have assumed the planning marathon was nearing the end and the construction would start soon. But those assumptions are being called into question after a recent public hearing.

Transportation officials are hesitant to commit to a timeline before reviewing all of the comments on the current Environmental Assessment to determine whether there are any significant changes from the previously–approved plan. If there are changes, another supplement to the environmental plan would be required, which would then require additional public review period before recording a final decision.

Some comments submitted by environmental groups have indicated that impacts have changed significantly and that an important environmental review in the plan is flawed. This seems to lead to the potential for further environmental assessment…and more delays.

HOW TO SUBMIT COMMENTS

If you missed the public hearings, you can still submit comments until Aug. 9.

Citizens who did not speak at the meetings but would like to provide comments can mail them to Drew Joyner, Human Environment Unit Head, NCDOT, 1598 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1598. They may also call or e-mail their comments to Drew Joyner at (919) 431-6700 or djoyner@ncdot.gov.

NCDOT, the Federal Highway Administration, and other agencies will review the comments received and then determine if additional environmental studies are needed.

To read the Environmental Assessment and view the project maps, visit the NCDOT Web site or the Outer Banks Task Force Web site.

The Outer Banks Continues to Push Enviromentally Friendly Ideas

Posted on April 22, 2010

The pristine natural environment is one of the Outer Banks’ hallmarks that attracts visitors year after year. A wide array of wildlife, long stretches of gorgeous beaches, protected conservation lands all offer a connection to nature that is rare in today’s world. It is crucial to keep these attributes protected, and the OBX continues to pursue ideas that offer an increased awareness and protection (ban on plastic bags and possible wind farms to name a couple).

As the old saying goes, “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish; and you will not have to listen to his incessant whining about how hungry he is.”…or something like that.

The town of Kill Devil Hills is now offering a program to residents that not only offers some great environmentally friendly products at great prices, but also helps residents understand how to build and use them on their own.

The Outer Banks Voice points out that, Kill Devil Hills’ “[c]ommissioners gave the go-ahead for the town’s ‘green challenge’ in 2008 with its mantra, ‘to live green you’ve got to save the blue in Kill Devil Hills,’ placing an emphasis on conserving water, which is not always abundant on the Outer Banks.” And, “[l]ast year, the town demonstrated how to plant ‘upside down tomatoes’ near the entrance to Town Hall. Holes were cut in the bottoms of hanging buckets and the tomato plants grew downward. Visitors could help themselves.”

This year, the town is taking this program a step further and offering a workshop, including needed materials, that instructs participants on how to build and use rain barrels and composting barrels, extremely effective ways to conserve water and improve home gardens.

Outer Banks Compost Bin

Kill Devil Hills’ Water Conservation Education Program
How to Construct and Use Rain Barrels and Composting Barrels

Workshop on Friday, May 7, 2010 at 10:30 a.m. at the Buildings and Grounds Shop, inside the Public Works Complex, off Colington Road & Bermuda Bay Boulevard.
Space and materials are limited, please pre-register by calling 252.449.5300.
All materials will be provided at a total cost of $30 per barrel.
Limit is one rain barrel and one composting barrel per person.
Payment required at time of workshop.

A Greener…and Bluer Outer Banks

Posted on March 29, 2010

Outer Banks BlueGreen Logo

Blue Green Outer Banks is a non profit organization promoting the preservation of the environment, particularly the local Outer Banks environment.

The organization believes that we all play a vital role in the relationship between the shore, the ocean, and the sound. “Earth plus sky plus water is what defines our region” said Willo Kelly, director and founder of Blue Green Outer Banks in a recent interview with The Outer Banks Voice. “Green is so thirty-five years ago,” a reference to the overuse of the phrase in product lines, advertising and “pop environmentalism.” BlueGreen’s mission statement is to “coordinate, support and enhance sustainable community initiatives through educational outreach, marketing and community collaboration.” BlueGreen seeks to facilitate organic economic development.

Kelly felt the responsibility to care for the environment since she was a freshmen in high school when she entered a school science fair with her model of a flat solar panel-powered house. Her interests were sparked again during the energy crisis of the 1970s, and now for a third time with BlueGreen Outer Banks. “BlueGreen Outer Banks can become synonymous with an environmentally friendly coastal community and can become a model for others,” Kelly said.

BlueGreen was closely involved with the recent St. Patrick’s Day parade on the Outer Banks.

You can find more information at: http://www.bluegreenouterbanks.org/

Outer Banks Bridge Delayed

Posted on February 12, 2010

Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks

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.

It seems the process is getting a bit more complicated; construction of the replacement bridge is being delayed again to allow planners and engineers to conduct another environmental impact study. It is reported that the decision came from the state department of transportation. The final phase of planning is currently under review process and will be released at the end of the month.

Outer Banks Wind Farm?

Posted on September 10, 2009

Wind Turbine The Outer Banks is becoming the focus of a push for pollution-free electricity. Surfers, Kiteboarders, and sailors know how fierce the winds can be along the Outer Banks, and energy experts are starting to take notice.

A small company from Chapel Hill, Outer Banks Ocean Energy Corp., has been developing plans for more than a year to build a “wind farm” 25 miles off the coast of the Outer Banks, and the plans are gaining momentum. The goal is to harness some of the nation’s best wind resources to create environmentally friendly electricity. The wind farm would generate enough power for about 42,000 homes.

If the project reaches fruition, this would be one of the first wind farms in the U.S., but the idea will need to overcome strong public opposition and pass intense environmental scrutiny. The turbines’ blades would reach 465 feet into the sky. At least 50 towers would be required for the first phase, and plans call for eventually increasing to 150 towers spread out over 54 square miles if demand supports the growth. Even with such large turbines and blades, and at mass quantities, the farm would not be visible 25 miles from shore. In addition, detailed environmental and coastal impact studies are needed: sea bed formation, bird flight patterns, fish movements, commercial shipping lanes, and military training zones.

Getting the project passed will be a formidable task, and building it could be just as difficult. It is estimated to be a seven year project and cost upwards of $900 million. Hurricane-resistant towers would need to be secured to the ocean floor, and underwater transmission cables costing upwards of $2 million per mile would need to come ashore over beaches, dunes, and wetlands.

Project founder, Donald Evans, feels wind is one of our best energy options, saying “Offshore wind is an inexhaustible, clean energy resource. It’s been there since the Earth was here.”

Eventually, the plan also calls for underwater turbines to capture power from the steady Gulf Stream just off the OBX coast.

Outer Banks Going Green?

Posted on May 5, 2009

Due to some environmental concerns the debate over plastic bags has risen on the Outer Banks. Sen. Marc Basnight, a Manteo Democrat and Senate leader, is proposing a radical idea to help keep the Outer Banks environment clean and free of pesky plastic bags; charge for them! The proposal is to charge 10 cents per plastic bag in an effort to promote the use of cloth, reusable bags.

It is estimated that consumers on the Outer Banks use about 2.5 million of these bags every year. While not every consumer using these bags is littering, it is evident that a tremendous amount of the bags end up polluting OBX beaches and national parks.

A North Carolina Senate bill introduced in March would ban plastic bags at major retail outlets, except for those used for meats, produce and fish. Minimizing the use of these bags is most certainly not a new concept. This bill is still being passed around the state senate and is awaiting approval. The state of Virginia enacted a similar bill about a month ago that placed a 5 cent fee on single use bags.

Outer Banks Jeep Tours

Posted on December 30, 2008

Beach Jeeps of Corolla Jeep Tours Are an Excellent Way to See the Outer Banks

The Outer Banks (OBX) is one of the most remote and naturally preserved coastal areas on the East Coast, if not the entire Continental US, and the best part is that the area is readily available for all to enjoy. Gorgeous beaches stretch for miles, endless outdoor activities are easily accessible, and a large portion of the natural environment is preserved allowing an abundance of wildlife to thrive.

A great way to get the full OBX experience is to take advantage of a self-guided Jeep tour. Companies on the Outer Banks rent Jeeps and map out routes for you to explore on your own. Renting a Jeep is a perfect way to explore the sections of the Outer Banks that are impossible to traverse in a mini-van. Jeeps can be used to get up close and personal with amazing wildlife that you would otherwise not be able to see from the beaten path Sunset tours are a particularly great way to see the outer banks.

It is always a great time to visit the outer Banks (it was 68 degrees on Dec. 28!!), and great vacation homes are available year round.

Outer Banks Land Trust Day

Posted on November 6, 2008

Saturday, November 8, 2008 is a great opportunity to support local Outer Banks businesses and help preserve vital natural environments along the coast.

The North Carolina Coastal Land Trust is a non-profit organization formed in 1992 to help protect locally and regionally valuable natural areas and waters. Since its inception, the Coastal Land Trust has protected over 40,000 acres of barrier island beaches, riparian corridors, and other special natural areas.

Outer Banks Land Trust Day

Outer Banks Land Trust Day is an opportunity for the community and area businesses to support the Coastal Land Trust. Patronize these businesses on Saturday, November 8, 2008, which are all donating 10% of sales from Outer Banks Land Trust Day:

• Kitty Hawk Kites
• Kelly’s Outer Banks Restaurant and Tavern
• Nags Head Hammocks
• Kitty Hawk Sports
If you shop online at www.kittyhawksports.com from November 8-15th, enter the promo code LANDO8 to receive a 10% discount AND have 10% of your purchase donated to the Coastal Land Trust.