Environmental groups have now dropped all remaining lawsuits that prevented NCDOT from replacing the 52-year-old Bonner Bridge with a new bridge parallel to the existing one. Dropping the lawsuits completes the terms of a settlement agreement reached in June (link opens in new tab).
NCDOT awarded a US$216 million design-build contract for the 5.6km-long Bonner Bridge replacement to the team of PCL Constructors and HDR Engineering in 2011. The contract is still in place and the final amount will be adjusted to meet current costs associated with the construction delay.
With the final dismissals, NCDOT and the contractor expect to complete final design and pre-construction work in time to begin building the new bridge in spring of 2016.
“This marks another historic milestone in finally replacing the critical lifeline bridge for residents and visitors of the Outer Banks and supporting our continued efforts to connect North Carolina,” said Pat McCrory, the governor of the US state. “I want to thank the entire team of NCDOT employees, state, and federal attorneys who have worked so hard to make this possible and find a solution for the Bonner Bridge project which had been stalled for more than 20 years.”
In addition to replacing the Bonner Bridge, NCDOT will also construct a new interim bridge over an inlet on Pea Island and the 4km-long Pamlico Sound Bridge from the southern end of the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge into Rodanthe.
