NCDOT’s Closure of Bonner Bridge
The National Wildlife Refuge Association and Defenders of Wildlife, represented by Southern Environmental Law Center, continue to advocate for reliable and safe transportation on the Outer Banks. The recent closure of the Bonner Bridge shows just how devastating the frequent bridge closures and road washouts along NC 12 can be for island residents. The state’s current decision not to invest in a long-term solution for Hatteras Island is likely to have catastrophic consequences for years to come.
Groups File Appeal for Reliable Route to Hatteras
Before the N.C. Department of Transportation commits public resources to building and maintaining a patchwork of bridges and highway in the Atlantic Ocean’s tidal zone and surf for the next 50 years, conservation groups filed an appeal in federal court to ensure that there is adequate public consideration of total project impacts—including disclosure of the long-term costs—and safer, more reliable alternative routes across Oregon Inlet to the village of Rodanthe.