The Virginian-Pilot
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CURRITUCK COUNTY, N.C.
Opinions on a bridge to the Outer Banks depend on the neighborhood.
During public hearings held last week by the North Carolina Turnpike Authority, Corolla and Aydlett residents generally opposed the five-mile span. Residents in Duck and Southern Shores, though, mostly supported the bridge.
Groups have formed on both sides: Build the Bridge - Preserve Our Roads in support and No Mid-Currituck Bridge in opposition. Each has a website and advertises on billboards.
"I feel like this is a want, not a need," Corolla resident Nancy Baker said. "I don't want to pay $800 million to solve traffic flow."
Baker was one of about 125 people who attended a hearing in Corolla on Wednesday. A hearing was also held in Kill Devil Hills on Tuesday and another in Barco on Thursday.
"On balance, the benefits outweigh the negatives," said Duck resident Allan Starr, among a minority who spoke in favor of the bridge at the Corolla hearing.
The North Carolina Turnpike Authority proposes building a bridge across the Currituck Sound from Ayd-lett to Corolla, ranging in cost from about $600 million to more than $1 billion.
The project has been debated for more than 20 years and went through public hearings in the 1990s with opinions divided according to locality. Lack of funding and environmental issues delayed the project.
Options include a five- mile span across the sound that would turn into a short road through Aydlett before becoming a bridge again through two miles of swamp to intersect with U.S. 158.
Toll plazas would sit at the U.S. 158 intersection just south of Coinjock. Aydlett Road would remain in place parallel to the bridge.
In another configuration, the bridge would end at the Aydlett shoreline and merge into a road that would travel through the swamp to U.S. 158. Aydlett Road would be closed and toll plazas would sit in Aydlett.
Currituck County officials who have supported the bridge oppose building toll plazas in Aydlett and further disturbing the community.
Building a road through the swamp saves about $60 million on the project, b ut environmental agencies prefer a bridge to allow free flow of water and wildlife.
On the Corolla side, the bridge could connect to N.C. 12 near the TimBuck II commercial complex or near the Corolla Bay subdivision about two miles north.
Another alternative is not to build a bridge and instead widen existing highways.
Aydlett is a community set along the Currituck Sound without traffic lights, gas stations or convenience stores.
Most residents own at least a small boat, part of an old tradition of traversing the sound without a bridge. Many tend gardens as large as small farms. The bridge would destroy the rural character and quiet lifestyle, residents say.
In Corolla, a tourist resort area, the bridge would increase day-trippers and burden N.C. 12 with more traffic, not less, opponents said.
Corolla lacks parking and other facilities to handle the swell of day-trippers. Crime would increase because of the extra escape route offered by a bridge, opponents said.
"Day-trippers bring their own food and beer and leave their trash," Corolla resident Barry Richmond said during Wednesday's public hearing.
In Duck and Southern Shores, traffic would probably decrease with a new bridge. Now, traffic clogs on N.C. 12 as it winds north from Southern Shores to Corolla.
Travelers heading to Corolla would take the bridge, trimming about an hour off the circuitous route through southern Currituck, across the Wright Memorial Bridge into Dare County and then north about 20 miles on N.C. 12 through Duck to Corolla.
Hurricane evacuation and medical services would be faster, supporters said. Currituck County employees and construction workers would have a quicker trip to the Outer Banks.
The public can make comments to the Turnpike Authority through June 7. The state plans to make a decision on the preferred option in August and issue a final environmental impact statement in September.
If approved, construction would begin in 2011 and the bridge would open by 2014.
The bridge would be built and operated by a private developer with state oversight. Tolls could run from $6 to $12 each way. The state sets aside $15 million annually to help pay for the bridge.
Jeff Hampton, (252) 338-0159, jeff.hampton@pilotonline.com
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Bridge to Corolla
Thousands acres of land were allowed to be developed by Currituck County with only a two lane road as access. This was a drive to increase the tax base of what was a poor county.
The residents and visitors of Kitty Hawk, So. Shores and Duck now have to deal with all of the traffic to Corolla. We do not share in the property tax revenues generated in Corolla. We certainly should not have to be forced into a four lane road from So.Shores north.
The cost of the bridge is far less than the price of purchasing the land to widen and build the road.
As for parking in Corolla, Currituck County gave in to developers and did not demand any public parking. Currituck County needs to step up to the plate and be a real beach town with adequate access for the development that was permitted.
Build the Bridge
Just ask the people of Great Bridge how the expressway has given them back their weekends. The traffic has the be fixed! Sorry residents, but without the tourist tax dollars paying for your year-round county services - you would pay. It is a win-win for all involved. It is a public safety issue that can no longer can be ignored. Build the Bridge!
Build the Bridge
The people in Corolla who oppose the bridge are self centered and selfish. They probably didn’t even live there 5 years ago. But now they now own their little slice of paradise and to hell with everyone else.
They don’t want day trippers? You mean those other Currituck residents who would have to go 50 miles or more to sit on that precious sand?
How about the school kids who have to go 100+ miles every day to go to Currituck schools. With the bridge that would be less than 20 miles a day. Oh that’s right, those same people who oppose the bridge don’t want you to live there if you have school aged children.
Get over it. You bought in a beach community. The ocean draws people and they have a RIGHT to access the ocean.
If you want isolation, go find a cave in the mountains. Just not too close to the Appalachian Trail.
Hypocrites!
INCONVENIENCE VERSUS LIVES
YES IT IS NOT GOOD FOR SOME,BUT THE MAIN ISSUE IS THE AMOUNT OF LIVES THAT SHORTER TRAVEL DISTANCE COULD SAVE.THINK ABOUT IT,CAROLLS,IT COULD SAVE SOME OF YOU FOLKS ALSO.AFTER ALL,WHAT IS MOST IMPORTANT?
Bridge To Corolla
It's time the residents of Powells Point,Harbinger,and Point Harbor get a break on Saturdays during the summer.
Figures
Ever been in a backup over 25miles long? Saturdays in Currituck to Dare Co is it! Sorry that some may inconvienced, but what about the ones that have beens all this time? Satrudays paralizes the rest of the outerbanks just because of the backups, fustrated drivers that finally get free, business in the first few miles of Dare Co don`t get business from locals at all that day. When used to go see my grandmother in the nuring home, Sat was the only day off usually, I would go west through Columbia, hit the sound bridge, E City and Chesapeake. This route added at least 2 hrs one way. It was either that or wait til 9pm to come back. Folks on the mainland could make big $ on this!
You must not have heard that..
Flying cars are coming soon to the OBX!! SO how are you planning to collect tolls from them?? And Hover-board fisherman?? Another 1+million $ study...