Wednesday, December 07, 2005
Bonner Bridge Plans Still Uncertain
 Oregon Inlet has been moving at a steady clip since it first opened in 1846. The sea is constantly shifting the inlet farther south and the inlet has moved more than two miles in the last 160 years. As a result, the bridge that spans the Oregon Inlet, the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, has always been in a treacherous position. More than 50 million dollars have been spent in the last few decades to keep the 40 year old bridge operational, but recent surveys have given the Bonner bridge a stability rating of 4 out of 100. Residents and visitors have been pushing for action to avoid disconnecting Bodie Island and Pea Island. State officials presented updated information on the future of the inlet at the Dare County Board of Commissioners' meeting on Monday, but little is certain at this point. Options include a parallel bridge and a bridge that bypasses Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge and goes 17 miles directly to Rodanthe. This bridge is vital to North Carolina's outer banks economy and we will keep our eyes peeled for further updates.Aerial Photographic History of Oregon Inlet from 1932 Full Story from the Outer Banks Sentinel Archive Link 0 Comments Tell a Friend |
