Tom Warne Report, 29 July 2011
RALEIGH, N.C. – After two decades of extensive environmental study and public outreach, the N.C. Department of Transportation this week awarded a contract to replace the Bonner Bridge in Dare County. Secretary Gene Conti awarded the $215.8 million contract to the design-build team of PCL Civil Constructors Inc. and HDR Engineering Inc. The contract amount is $25.8 million less than NCDOT’s estimated cost to build the new bridge.
“We’ve spent 20 years working hard to make a new bridge a reality, and it’s exciting to reach this step in the process,” Conti said. “We look forward to starting construction on this critically important project, which will provide a safer, more reliable way for residents and visitors to get from Hatteras Island to the mainland.”
The existing Bonner Bridge was built in 1962 and has far exceeded its lifespan. In the past 10 years, NCDOT has spent $26.5 million rehabilitating the 2.7-mile bridge to address the deterioration that comes with age in its coastal setting. The bridge over Oregon Inlet has a sufficiency rating of four out of 100, meaning the bridge no longer meets the needs of today’s motorists.