by Think Currituck, on 2/4/16 12:33 PM
Note: This article was posted in January 2016. For the latest news and updates about the Mid-Currituck Bridge Project, CLICK HERE.
Back in November, North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory announced construction of the long-planned Mid-Currituck Bridge between the mainland and Corolla could be accelerated by two years due to transportation funding changes in the state budget approved in August.
In late 2015, the state Board of Transportation granted a request for $5.7 million from the state’s Highway Trust Fund, which is supported primarily by revenue generated by North Carolina’s motor fuels tax, to pay for purchase of a 7-acre tract in Corolla that will be the eastern landing of the bridge.
The complete list of accelerated schedules for transportation projects will be presented to the Board of Transportation for their review at their December meeting, with their approval expected in January 2016.
Read the full article from The Outer Banks Voice here.
The NCDOT released an article as well.
Instead of 2019, construction of the long-awaited Mid Currituck Bridge will start next year — two years ahead of schedule, the state Department of Transportation decided Thursday.
Since the update of the 2016-25 State Transportation Improvement Act (STIP), the board was able to approve several new transportaion projects as well as accelerate schedules.
The bridge will be a second crossing of the Currituck Sound. This will ease congestion and help traffic flow during hurricane evacuations. The nridge will also help improve travel time for those vacationg and traveling north towards the OBX beaches.
The project includes a two-lane bridge that spans the sound, connecting Currituck County mainland in Coinjock to Corolla on the Outer Banks. It also includes a second two-lane bridge to span Maple Swamp on the Currituck mainland.
The DOT board also agreed to accelerate construction of few other projects including moving a new taxiway at the Coast Guard base in Elizabeth City up from fiscal year 2024 to 2022 as well as moving the date for the widening and resurfacing of New Hope Road in Perquimans County to fiscal year 2018 instead of 2019.
View the NCDOT Board Site here.
