New Bridge to Outer Banks
A settlement between the North Carolina Dept. of Transportation and environmental groups has cleared the way for replacing the 2.7-mile Herbert C. Bonner Bridge. Part of the sole highway connecting the Outer Banks barrier islands with the mainland, the 52-year-old structure has been beset by scour problems and vessel impacts over the past two decades. A $215.8-million design-build contract to replace the bridge, awarded to PCL Civil Constructors and HDR Engineering in 2011, was delayed by lawsuits involving long-term environmental issues in federally protected areas of Hatteras Island. As part of the agreement, NCDOT will explore rerouting Route 12 south of Oregon Inlet across nearby Pamlico Sound, bypassing areas highly vulnerable to beach erosion.
