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Fixes expected to reopen N.C. 12 in a month
A temporary bridge will span the largest breach. (USFWS)
The $10 million repair project will be funded entirely by the federal government.
After consulting with 75 experts, the North Carolina Department of Transportation will install a temporary, manufactured bridge across the breach 6 miles south of the Bonner Bridge, the governor’s office said in a statement.
Other breaches will be filled, the statement said. The largest is at Mirlo Beach, a chronic trouble spot on N.C. 12.
“This short-term solution provides time for NCDOT to develop a comprehensive, long-term plan by collaborating with agency partners and experts, as well as state, local, and federal officials,” the statement said.
The span will manufactured by Mabey Bridge and at an estimated cost of $2.5 million to $2.7 million, according to the Department of Transportation.
It will be shipped from the manufacturer in 35 truckloads and assembled on-site. The bridge will span 650 feet, a NCDOT timeline said, and 60-foot piles will be driven to support it.
Because it is metal, it will not be a permanent solution in a marine environment, but it will support normal car and truck traffic at a reduced speed.
NCDOT said a similar bridge is on U.S. 52 in Winston-Salem. See the timeline leading up to the plan.
Dare County will begin allowing residents back on to the island in stages starting Sunday. See more details.
More than 2,000 people stayed behind as the center of Hurricane Irene passed west of the Outer Banks over the weekend.
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Erik says:
Fantastic news. Are there supplies that folks down there need that aren’t being brought in and is there a group taking donations of those?
Cleaning supplies, formula, diapers, etc?
Rob Morris says:
Erik:
Interfaith Community Outreach (ICO) is staffing a telephone information center to coordinate disaster relief services throughout Dare County for all those needing help.
If you need assistance – call 252-475-5758 or 475-5759
If you would like to make a donation or volunteer
your time or labor to help those in need – call 252-475-5758 or 475-5759
Sailor says:
Thank you Governor Perdue and President Obama! This shows that our government can work. Lots of negative views on other message boards here, time for those people to stay quiet.
Remember, this $10 million is 7.2 minutes of Pentagon spending, much better to spend this money here to open up the lifeline to Hatteras Island.
I look forward to vacationing in Avon during October.
MARK says:
Will visitors be allowed in via Ocracoke before the road is opened. We heard possibly the 17th.
Donna Alton says:
Like many other people, my husband and I have our hearts in Cape Hatteras. We pray for all involved that life gets back to normal for you as fast as possible. And selfishly, we hope it is in time for our vacation the 2nd week of Oct.
Happy Barracuda says:
The digital videos and stills from both the ground and air don’t reveal the true scope of the destruction of Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, and Avon.
Watching people drag their salt water soaked possessions (deceased relatives clothes, family photo albums, etc.) out into the yard of their flooded homes will cause the most black-hearted haters to become choked-up with compassion.
Yes, we need the almighty tourist dollars to keep the Hatteras Island machine working. Rental company workers are being paid with IOU’s. Commercial fishermen can not work because a shutdown due to pollution and there is no way to transport their catch. The trickle-down effect to other businesses was felt the day there was a mandatory evacuation. And there many other problems that are too numerous to mention.
When non-residents are allowed on the island, they should remember to TREAD LIGHTLY!! Because even residents not damaged by the storm are on edge.
Old Aviator says:
Now, if we can just get the inland NC folks to stop whining about repairs on the Outer Banks, we can all get back to our lives.
M Mirabelle says:
I thought Hatteras residents didn’t want the federal government meddling in their lives?
Wasn’t that what they were running their mouths about when they were required to drive around the nests of endangered birds? Not hearing many residents complaining about the feds nowadays.
Are we to believe that Hatteras residents only want the handouts and benefits of living on federally supported land, but they don’t think the accompanying requirements apply to them? Tsk tsk.
fd says:
Obama! He hasn’t even flown over the disaster areas yet! They are not his priorty right now
Stephan Herzog says:
I don’t know if you are aware of the new foal that was born on Shackleford Island. He was born August 28, 2011 during or just after the Hurricane. His name is Aftermath and he is the foal of Anastasia. Check out my website to see pictures of the new foal.
Bob Samuels says:
I can feel the heartbeat of Hatteras Island! It’s alive and…. recovering. All OBX’ers need to lend a helping hand to our neighbors to the south.
really says:
Did y’all read this
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0811/62395.html
Lana says:
Mirabelle
No we dont want the government meddling in our lives. We don’t need or want YOU meddling either!!!
As far as Obummer is concerned did he fly over the OBX? NO to busy in New Jersey…..
Sailor says:
Lana- you are a typical whiner, one of the “keep your gummint hands off my Medicare” types. Certainly no need for President Obama to personally fly over the Outer Banks, he has appointed competent people to run FEMA, no way one person is tasked with seeing every bit of destruction from Irene.
Sit back, relax, and enjoy your new bridge, complements of the US Government and thanks to the efforts of Governor Beverly Perdue in getting the agencies to work together quickly to implement a plan for rapid repairs.
Somehow most of the whiners missed out on their grammar and spelling lessons. Learn the difference between “to”, “too”, and “two” Lana.
Truck says:
Has anyone heard of people refusing government help ?
Concerned Citizen says:
I don’t want to spend 10 million dollars fixing this tourist attraction, especially when North Carolina apparently isn’t going to spend any money on the project.
BTW, please have the government send me $200.00 to fix my roof damage.
Good grief!
M Mirabelle says:
Lana:
So are you saying you don’t want the bridges and repair work, which are being entirely funded by the federal government, and which are the lifeline for all Hatteras Island residents? Is that what you are saying?!?
Remember, it is the FEDERAL government that has kept Hatteras as pristine and unspoiled as it is. Hatteras Island remains beautiful because of the federal government. Otherwise, it too would have become an overdeveloped mass parking-lot like Nags Head and Kill Devil Hills.
The wonderful and unique lifestyle enjoyed by those of us who live on Hatteras Island is because of our federal government – it is entirely thanks to them. They are the ones who protect the islands’ natural beauty and provide assistance for us when nature inevitably beats us up from time to time.
Can you, then, explain why on earth you think you can do better, Lana?
Hello…..Lana???
windjammer says:
Sailor, which “to” should have lana used? I think you should check your grammar……
Sailor says:
Grammar for windjammer:
Here’s Lana’s quote: “NO to busy in New Jersey…..”
So when she says “to busy”, she probably means “too busy”. And she is like most whiners, totally focused on blaming someone for all her perceived problems. I suppose she thinks that the President of the USA should be like a magic fairy, flying over every trouble spot in the country, and waving his magic wand to fix it instantly!
http://www.elearnenglishlanguage.com/difficulties/totootwo.html
ponybird says:
Why do people blame Obama for everything that goes wrong in their life? It cracks me up. As if every national natural disaster is the fault of the President of the United States. You live in Hurricane alley. Deal with it. Be happy it isn’t worse, that storm could have been a higher category.