New cam to keep eye on Bonner Bridge traffic

Drivers interested in getting a peek at the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge before having to cross Oregon Inlet will soon be able to see it live via Dare County's newest webcam.

Unlike the other two county-controlled cameras, this one is solar-powered, said Sandy Sanderson, the county's emergency management director.

"That's quite a difference," Sanderson said.

It is expected to be accessible to the public Monday, but lookers will be have to be quick - it will probably log off after about 35 seconds.

The video equipment for the cams at Hatteras village and Mirlo Beach had electric power sources available, but the Oregon Inlet location only has transmission lines nearby that are too powerful to tap. All three cameras were installed in partnership with the Outer Banks Repeater Association, a local ham radio club.

"It's been an ongoing project to provide cameras at key locations," Sanderson said, "and this seemed like the next logical location."

Situated on a pole on the southeast side of the inlet, the new cam, which cost about $2,500, can provide views of the historic Oregon Inlet Life-Saving Station, the inlet, N.C. 12 and the bridge.

When the camera is pointed at the bridge, the camera shows not only the high span but also vehicles driving on it, birds flying over it, boats passing under it and tide splashing against it.

Sanderson said the county emergency management office and the Coast Guard at Oregon Inlet are the only ones who can control the direction of the camera.

Since the popularity of the other webcams at times is too much for the system to handle, Sanderson said that the Oregon Inlet cam likely will limit the amount of time a person can stay on the page. The Mirlo cam, which is stationed in Rodanthe at one of the major overwash areas on N.C. 12, has frequently gotten bogged down by overuse, he said.

"It's very slow or you can't access it," he said.

Although its operation is being tweaked, Sanderson said, the new camera will probably require a person to log in and will cut off the viewer after a half-minute or so.

The older cams can be accessed directly by clicking on a link on the Dare County Web site. The image refreshes frequently, and online users can park there for as long as they want.

The state Department of Transportation chips in, when possible, by cleaning off the lenses, but it's difficult to keep them clear of salt "when you put them in a place that's susceptible to weather, " Sanderson said.

Catherine Kozak, (252) 441-1711, cate.kozak@pilotonline.com