The Virginian-Pilot
©
Planning for construction of a replacement bridge over Oregon Inlet is once again being delayed to allow transportation engineers to complete another environmental review.
Built in 1963, the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge was slated for replacement years ago, but interagency spats, environmental concerns and lawsuit threats have repeatedly hindered progress.
The most recent delay stems from a decision by the state Department of Transportation to alter the plans for the current alternative - construction of a short parallel bridge and shorter spans through Pea Island - that requires completion of an additional environmental assessment, according to a news release issued last week by Dare County.
The final step in the planning review process, called a Record of Decision, was supposed to have been released this month. It is now expected to be delayed until June.
Construction of the bridge, the only land link to Hatteras Island, will begin in spring 2011 at the earliest, the statement said.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Twitter
Google
Yahoo
Even more DUBIOUS "credit"
to the Southern Environmental Law Center, "National" Audubon Society and their ilk. Safety and welfare of humans takes a back seat to their selfish personal goals. It is absolutely unconscionable that this bridge has not been built. Delays, stalls and notice of intent to frivolously sue on every option considered have been the root cause of the delays. Not the State Agencies. Get on with it. Build the Bridge. Build it NOW.
Consider this, completed
This is a cost effective common sense approach and we cannot allow environmental concerns to trump the protection of communities that have existed for 100's of years.
Its time to stand up for ourselves--protection of human lives should trump wildlife, not the other way around as we can create alternative habitat for wildlife and do it a lot more cheaply than moving whole communities or building a bridge that qualifies as one of the longest bridge spans in America.
Just think about this
In 1993 the draft EIS was approved. In 1996, the final version of the approved EIS was not approved because of failure to solicit a section 7 consultation with FWS. When the consultation was requested, FWS refused.
Why the change of heart in 1996? Could it have had something to the with the National Wildlife Improvement Act passed in 1997?
So the lives of all who have traveled this bridge and who boat and fish around the bridge since 1993 (the past 14 years) have been placed at risk for the sake of politics and environmental policies that put wildlife before human life! And despite the fact that the past 9 years have been devoted to satisfying, to the extent possible, the majority of federal agencies involved and have resulted in the approval of the current plan by the elevated merger team, we face one more delay and continued threats posed by traversing a bridge with a safety rating of 2 out of 100!
This is BS. Not all of Pea Island is at risk to washover. Most areas are so wide and heavily vegetated that you can't see the beach. Mirlo Beach is at risk. The plans include remedies for the areas that are at risk and plans to address other areas as the need arises.
More Than a Bridge is Required
Bonner Bridge is being held up by the most minimal support from the numerous pilings. Erosion, scour, and constant tidal movement of sands in and around the pilings leave few with enough penetration to ensure safe travel across and longer lifespan. If it fell in because of failed engineering - what then - ferries forever? What North Carolina must do in a most timely manner is replace the bridge and mandate the construction of an elevated roadway from Oregon Inlet to Mirlo Beach, with adequate off and on ramps to allow visitors to frequent the beachs north of Mirlo to the Inlet. That will be the only way to avoid the constant maintenance and replacement of Hwy 12 from ever present nor'easters, hurricanes, and abnormal tides. Over time, and if sea levels are expected to rise, insisting upon maintaining grade level roadways along the northern stretch of Hatteras Island is the folly of all involved. Get with the new program, plan, design, engineer, and construct well into the future and not just for the upcoming 'season'. Enjoy your wobbling trips across the Bonner while it lasts!
Just like in Washington D.C.
"interagency spats, environmental concerns and lawsuit threats have repeatedly hindered progress."
Reading this article reeks like listening to the squabble in Washington over healthcare. It is a necessary bridge for Petes sake, Prior environmental tests have been done since before the old bridge was built. How much more environmental testing to see how many crabs or clams might be dislocated by construction of a new bridge. What is going to happen is the old bridge has a serious problem and then the rush to fix/replace it. Somebody someplace must be making a forture of the taxpayers money doing these "environmental and legal" testing.