AASHTO Journal, 20 December 2013
State transportation officials in North Carolina this week re-opened the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, which had been shut down earlier this month due to safety concerns (see related AASHTO Journal story here). The bridge serves as a vital route for those traveling from the outer banks to the mainland.
To re-open the bridge, the North Carolina Department of Transportation launched “aggressive dredging efforts,” pumping about 30,000 cubic yards of sand from the Oregon Channel Inlet to fix the erosion of sand from bridge pilings. Sonar scans, test pilings, and multiple inspections showed that the bridge is now safe to drive over.
“Our experts have closely analyzed all the data, and we are confident that the sand pumped through emergency dredging work last weekend fortified the support structure enough to allow traffic to safely travel on the bridge for now,” said NCDOT Secretary Tony Tata in a statement. “We will continue to closely monitor the bridge through inspections and weekly sonar scans during the emergency repair work. If safety becomes a concern again, we will take the appropriate steps to ensure public safety.”
During the closure, NCDOT’s Ferry Division provided support and worked on an emergency ferry route schedule.
“I want to thank our NCDOT team for quickly implementing an action plan to provide emergency ferry service for the citizens of Hatteras Island and for all of their hard work to safely reopen the Bonner Bridge,” said Gov. Pat McCrory. “This again highlights the need to replace the bridge as soon as possible and our administration will continue to fight to get that done.”
The Bonner Bridge, which carries N.C. 12 between the Oregon Inlet and Rodanthe in Dare County, was first opened to traffic in 1963 and is the only connection between mainland North Carolina and Hatteras Island. During peak summer periods, the bridge provides access to about 13,000 vehicles each day and is vital to the state’s $19.4 billion a year tourism industry. However, after half a century of wear and tear, including major storms, NCDOT decided to replace the bridge. Those efforts to build a new bridge have been stalled through various environmental lawsuits, but the project is making steps toward commencement.
Additional information on the Bonner Bridge is available here.
