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Legislators raise more questions about new bridge
Artist's rendering. (N.C. Turnpike Authority)
In a letter dated July 26, the four co-chairs of the Joint Legislative Transportation Oversight Committee made the request to David Joyner, executive director of the N.C. Turnpike Authority.
“The chairs have concerns about the terms of the agreement for the project, the financial feasibility of the project and the financial liability the state may be incurring as the NC Turnpike Authority considers the finance plan for this project,” the letter reads.
The 18 questions in the letter include, “What would be the State’s financial obligation under the aggreement? What could the State’s financial obligation become under the agreement if the project fails?”
The letter asks the Turnpike Authority “not to proceed with the Commercial Close of the Mid-Currituck Bridge Project” until the committee can review the requested information.
The letter also calls on Joyner to appear before the legislative committee this fall to show the partnership agreement being presented.
A preliminary partnership agreement was signed in 2009 between the Turnpike Authority and Currituck Development Group LLC.
The group, which includes ACS Infrastructure Development Inc., Dragados USA Inc., and Lochner-MMM Group, was formed to design, build and hold a financial stake in the bridge.
The co-chairs of the committee and signators of the letter are Sen. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick), Sen. Kathy Harrington (R-Gaston), Rep. Phillip Frye (R-Mitchell) and Rep. Grey Mills (R-Iredell).
Click here to see the full letter »
The 7-mile-long toll bridge would span the Currituck Sound from the Aydlett community on the mainland to between Corolla Bay and Monteray Shores on the Outer Banks.
Supporters say the bridge is necessary to address summertime traffic issues on U.S. 158 and N.C. 12 and help speed hurricane evacuations.
Detractors counter it would create an explosion of development and traffic on both the mainland and along the Currituck Outer Banks.
During the recently completed General Assembly session, Rabon and other state lawmakers said the bridge and other proposed toll projects should not be legislatively mandated, and instead put on the same priority list by the NCDOT like other road projects.
A controversy arose during debate of a new state budget in June, when a letter was sent from the NCDOT to key legislators, including Sen. Stan White (D-Dare), saying “gap funding” for the proposed bridge needed to stay in the Fiscal Year 2012-13 spending plan to keep the project alive.
But NCDOT Chief Operating Officer Jim Trogdon had actually said the funding was not necessary to keep the project alive, and could be dropped from the current budget. The letter had been edited by two members of Gov. Bev Perdue’s staff without Trogdon’s final approval, and sent to legislators.
White quoted the letter on the Senate floor during debate of an amendment that would have kept the “gap funding” in the budget for the Mid-Currituck Bridge and the Garden Parkway near Charlotte.
The state had been budgeting “gap funding” to pay for preliminary work on the project until the Turnpike Authority and private partners issue bonds to borrow the money needed to pay for the bridge, estimated to be at least $650 million.
The “gap funding” could be around for decades, if some estimates are correct. At least one projection says North Carolina would have to set aside as much as $26 million a year for 40 years in the government’s annual budget to make up for possible shortfalls between toll revenues and the bond payments.
The state Senate launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the “gap funding” letter, and on June 28 sent their findings to the bipartisan State Ethics Commission for further review.
Money that would have gone to both projects was shifted in the final budget to the NCDOT Ferry Division operations budget to fill in for what would have come from tolls on several ferry routes that have been delayed until at least next July.
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Steve says:
Please, no more bridges. Remember, Oregon Inlet bridge is the largest contributor to the demise of Hatteras Island.
Beached Bum says:
it is called progress people are you telling me mainland Currituck would not benefit from the bridge and development. Plus just think of the fuel saved by Currituck County Sheriff’s Dept
Katie says:
I see both sides of this…
I do like the idea of a better evacuation route! Not to mention it cutting down the traffic in the KH/SS area. I do see where concern of Corolla blowing up comes into play here, but hasn’t it been already doing that?!? If its about the Carova Beaches, I’m sure there are ways of going about making it so No One but Home Owners can go there, pull a Pea Island move and just close the Beaches to Non-Residents…
Just a suggestion.
skiffguide says:
An explosion of growth- that’s such a hoot. If these detractors hadn’t begun rolling into Corolla in 1984 when the Guard Gate was removed, there would never have been an explosion of growth. We liked it just fine before the gate came down and the hungry masses arrived- Now Corolla is a study in weirdness and many people will not be able to sleep at night until every grain of sand is paved over. Bridge or no bridge- Corolla, North Carolina is already overdeveloped. What’s really sad is that the entire Currituck Banks was one huge open canvas owned by the various Hunt Clubs and could have actually been “planned” in a comprehensive manner instead of the hodgepodge it’s become.
James says:
The state may be on the hook for $26 million a year for 40 years? Wow, that’s not chump change. And for what? So that rich people from other states can access their vacation homes a little faster? So the house cleaners from Elizabeth City don’t have to wait in traffic to make good money? Oh wait, hurricane evacuations. If we tout this project as a requirement for public safety, then no one can oppose it. Kind of like GW Bush and his “support these crazy wars or you don’t support the troops”. The counties already have an effective plan for hurricane evacuations. Don’t let this wasteful project happen, replace the Bonner Bridge first. Fund our schools, and then if there’s money, think about cutting taxes.
Paul says:
funny …it’s the same thinking everywhere … not in my town ! How many lives has the Oregon Inlet bridge saved though Steve ???
As for development give the NPS time , they’ll find some shore bird or a remote turtle nest and close that whole Northern beach stretch down . Incredibly surprised that the locals up in Duck and Corolla haven’t edicted somehow that they are the ONLY ones allowed to drive on the beach . Sad , but the way it’s going down in Hatteras i give it 20 years and it’ll be a ghost town . NPS and the government strike again !
Poorboy says:
@James…Those are not rich people from other states. Those are “Job Creators” (cue the sound of angels singing). Rich people is a class-warfare term.
Build the bridge under the pretense of Homeland Security and some nonsense related to “evildoers”. The Feds will even throw in a 40 ft fast patrol boat if you ask nice.
fd says:
skiffguide you are right on! Well said to those of us who remember.
Rick says:
Surely there has been a study to determine just how high the tolls would have to be to pay off the bonds and not use general revenue funds. If the tolls wouldn’t be too high then build the bridge. If a study shows that drivers would go the long way around to avoid the toll then don’t build it.
KDHgal says:
First off…have to agree with skiffguide and James. Years ago I used to love to go up to Corolla but it hurts my soul to drive up there now and see all the mcmansions and the loss of all the undeveloped land full of wildlife. Millions made by a few but what a loss to the beautiful Outer Banks.
I’m not going to check into it now, but I would be interested in knowing exactly who these ‘developing partners’ are, foreign connections and what benefits they will reap and for how long, especially in comparison to the state and local governments.
Bazinga says:
The real truth is Senator Raybon wants the money for his by-pass around Wilmington and no one in the press will follow that hunting dog, he isn’t concerned about saving you money, he just found the money he needs for his project. Wake up America.
Frank from Southern Shores says:
Fix the bridges we already are responsible for and utilize monies to improve our school system and cut our taxes. Is there any cost benefits to a new $26 million dollar bridge?
comfortablybum says:
Infrastructure investments return far more revenue than tax cuts.
Angus McDonald says:
I live in Harbinger, NC. Harbinger is the last township before the you go over the Wright Brother’s Memorial Bridge, if you are driving South on Route 158.
I have seen the miles long traffic jams every year and I’ve had lots of time to look and think of the root cause of the traffic issue.
Putting in a Mid-Currituck bridge will not solve the problem with the traffic. It will however provide another entrance into corolla and ease the time and expense of driving the big loop and provide emergency usage during a crisis, i.e. Hurricanes.
The root cause of the traffic problem is the traffic stops and slows are created by the traffic lights on the Kitty Hawk side of the bridge. There are (3) traffic lights that are necessary due to the shopping plaza. People need to enter, exit and cross-over between plaza’s
With all of the traffic coming south from the bridge, the traffic begins to build around 8:30AM, Saturday & Sunday of the summer weeks. By around 10:30AM the traffic is up to the Exxon Station, near the Harley dealer and by noon as far as Grandy, a (10) mile total
A new bridge mid currituck bridge would ease the traffic flow but I think all parties concerned will be very dissapointed, after spending $650 million on a new bridge, only to find the same traffic problem.
A correct address of the situation would involve an alternate route on the Kitty Hawk side of the bridge, just off the bridge and before the first traffic light, down to Duck from 158. And maybe slowing the traffic on the bridge to perhaps 45MPH. That’s slow but just is just a suggestion. But an alternate route to Duck may resolve the traffic issue. There seems to be vacant land in the area, I’m not sure how much.
I think its worthwhile to look at this solution and perhaps prevent a great expenditure and an unexpected outcome.
Another solution, albeit radical is to create an elevated bypass that would allow drivers the option of bypassing the shopping plaza. That would definitely resolve the traffic issue and wold be less expensive, and if done correctly would not be unsightly and obtrusive.
SteveR says:
Paul, Oregon Inlet Bridge has not saved any lives but it has killed 2 and aided in the destruction of all of Hatteras Island.