NCTA unveils 'Option B' for Mid-Currituck Bridge

Remember a few months ago, when I blogged about that the NCTA was studying a possible new option for the Mid-Currituck Bridge that would save $60 million in cost?

Well, this past week the NCTA unveiled those plans as 'Option B'. Needless to say, some residents were not enthused with 'Option B'.

As previously mentioned part of Option B would consist of a new location for the tollbooth. The other part of Option B, and the part that left a strong distaste in the mouth of Currituck County Commissioner Barry Nelms, is to relocate and eliminate most Aydlett Road.

The toll booths and Aydlett Road are on the mainland side of the bridge.

Aydlett Road traffic would be moved onto the new road.

Part of the reasoning for the new option are environmental concerns, specifically Maple Swamp. According to NCTA Engineer Jennifer Harris, "Aydlett Road is essentially a dam in between two parts of Maple Swamp — it keeps the swamp from being a continuous natural feature."

Commissioner Nelms along with a few residents voiced their opposition to the new option.

"You are obviously catering to the environmentalists by moving [Aydlett] road. To move it to their immediate neighborhood is going to take out the stars they see at night forever and that’s not acceptable to the residents of Aydlett,” Nelms said.

A finalized route for the Mid-Currituck Bridge has yet to be determined.

Story Link:
New Currituck bridge option unveiled ---The Daily Advance

Comments

Crescent City Connection (New Orleans, LA)

The Crescent City Connection is a massive dual-span steel truss bridge that spans the lower Mississippi River at downtown New Orleans, about 95 river miles upstream from the mouth of the great river at the Head of Passes Light. If counted as a single bi-directional highway bridge, the parallel spans combine to form the single busiest bridge on the Mississippi River and its importance as a linchpin in the region’s transportation network cannot be overstated. While there have been various schemes over the years to construct bridges downriver from Algiers Point, this bridge has been the southernmost bridge on the Mississippi River since its initial construction in the 1950s. The years immediately following the end of World War II were a transformational period in the history of New Orleans. Already one of the great economic and cultural centers of the American Deep South, it was recognized at this time that major changes and improvements to the city’s transportation infrastructure would b...

Old US Route 99 through Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch

This summer I had a look into the alignment history of US Route 99 through the Tulare County communities of Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch. While this slab below might seem like much it is one of the few remaining reminders of how US Route 99 was during the 1920s in Tulare County. This blog is part of the larger Gribblenation US Route 99 Page. For more information pertaining to the other various segments of US Route 99 and it's three-digit child routes check out the link the below. Gribblenation US Route 99 Page Part 1; the history of US Route 99 in Tipton, Tulare, and Tagus Ranch Tipton and Tulare were both founded in 1872 as sidings of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The Southern Pacific Railroad laid the groundwork for development of southern San Joaquin Valley. Previous to the Southern Pacific Railroad travel via wagon or foot in Central California tended to avoid San Joaquin Valley in favor of the Stockton-Los Angeles Road. The Stockton Los Ange...

Former US Route 101 and California State Route 41 through Paso Robles

Paso Robles is a city located on the Salinas River of San Luis Obispo County, California. As originally configured the surface alignments of US Route 101 and California State Route 41 converged in downtown Paso Robles. US Route 101 originally was aligned through Paso Robles via Spring Street. California State Route 41 entered the City of Paso Robles via Union Road and 13th Street where it intersected US Route 101 at Spring Street. US Route 101 and California State Route 41 departed Paso Robles southbound via a multiplex which split near Templeton. Pictured above is the cover of the September/October 1957 California Highways & Public Works which features construction of the Paso Robles Bypass. Pictured below is the 1935 Division of Highways Map of San Luis Obispo County which depicts US Route 101 and California State Route 41 intersecting in downtown Paso Robles. Part 1; the history of US Route 101 and California State Route 41 i...

Gribblenation

Search This Blog