Shutting Down the Outer Banks

[Happy Panther]

http://www.change.org/petitions/southern-environmental-law-center-stop-your-assault-on-cape-hatteras-nc

 

Hatteras Island is arguably one of the most beautiful locations in the country.  It is also of historical, cultural, and economic importance to the State of North Carolina.  However, over the past 20 years this island has been held hostage by the Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) through their continued lawsuits over the construction of a replacement to the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge which spans the Oregon Inlet.  This bridge is the only link that residents and visitors have to safely and efficiently travel to and from Hatteras Island. The Bonner Bridge has been intermittently closed over the past few years due to structural issues that made it unsafe for travel. While a trip driving over the bridge takes only a few minutes, the closures result in a minimum 3 hour ferry ride as the only other alternative for residents and visitors to access Hatteras Island.  This is not only inconvenient, but also economically devastating to local businesses and extremely dangerous for those in need of medical treatment.  The SELC has repeatedly blocked efforts to start construction by suing the State of NC on an array of charges. 

 

 

Man you ask anyone in the southern outer banks about this and they are almost unanimously fired up. The bridge is indeed closed right now which is a huge pain.https://apps.ncdot.gov/newsreleases/details.aspx?r=9095

 

No bridge during the summer would effectively shut down the economy.

 

I'm all for saving the turtles but sheesh

 

http://www.ncdot.gov/projects/bonnerbridgereplace/

[g5jamz]

http://www.wral.com/emergency-declaration-issued-for-bonner-bridge/13185440/

 

 

[the butch]

They still let SUVs drive on the beach in Oregon Inlet? Anyway, I don't see the big deal. Bridge is already built, they just want to make repairs.

[Happy Panther]

They still let SUVs drive on the beach in Oregon Inlet? Anyway, I don't see the big deal. Bridge is already built, they just want to make repairs.

 

I think the issue is the current bridge is in disrepair and will eventually fail.

 

The new bridge is approved but has not been started due to litigation

[g5jamz]

It was supposed to be built decades ago, but environmentalists were responsible for halting the project.  Now we are where we are...