US 158 and
NC 12. Its purpose is to alleviate summer traffic congestion and to improve both emergency response and evacuation time. Long a topic of study and debate, the bridge could be built in the 2020s-2030s.
History
Plans for a bridge that connected
Currituck County's mainland and outer banks has been on the drawing board since the 1970s. However, because of the high cost of project, it remained unfunded for decades. In 2008, the bridge was picked up by the
North Carolina Turnpike Authority
The North Carolina Turnpike Authority was created in 2002 to speed the implementation of needed transportation improvements by funding some projects with tolls. Governed by a nine-member authority board, it is located within the Department of Tr ...
as a possible new toll route and work began on the environmental impact for the area.
On January 19, 2012, The Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was released by the N.C. Turnpike Authority. It recommended the preferred alternative for the project, which involves construction of the bridge, as well as limited improvements to existing
NC 12 and
US 158, estimated to cost around $660 million. With final approval expected in the spring, construction would begin in late 2012, opening to traffic in 2017.
The project would include:
:* A straight two-lane bridge connecting the mainland with a northern landing on the Outer Banks;
:* Toll plaza and interchange with
US 158, with two-lane bridge over Maple Swamp;
:* Reversing the center turn lane on
US 158;
:* Roundabout installed on
NC 12, at the bridge landing and Currituck Clubhouse Drive; and
:* Widen
NC 12 to four-lane in certain areas, with left turn lanes at intersections that remain two-lane.
In June, 2012, NCDOT recommended not to fund the project through 2013, anticipating possible lawsuits. As a result, the North Carolina General Assembly provided no funds, delaying the project. In December, 2014, NCDOT included the bridge in its final draft in the 10-year State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). With an estimated cost of $410 million, with the state contributing $173 million, it will pay off the remainder by toll revenue. Construction for the bridge was programmed to begin in 2019 and be completed in four years.
Project planning and implementation of the Mid-Currituck Bridge was placed on hold in 2013 while NCDOT reviewed state, regional and local transportation improvement funding priorities using the Strategic Mobility Formula. The project was then approved for inclusion in the 2016-2025 State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). An amendment to the STIP called for NCDOT to start the dedication of state transportation funding in fiscal year 2017 (which starts July 2016) that will be used for bridge construction.
Reports in summer 2018 indicated that the bridge could open in 2024, but no contract for construction has yet been awarded. Officially there is no date for completion.
In March 2019 the
Federal Highway Administration
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) is a division of the United States Department of Transportation that specializes in highway transportation. The agency's major activities are grouped into two programs, the Federal-aid Highway Program a ...
approved the project.
In May 2023, litigation filed by the
Southern Environmental Law Center
The Southern Environmental Law Center (SELC) is the largest 501(c)(3) environmental nonprofit organization in the southeastern United States, with more than 100 attorneys and 200 staff members overall working at the local, state, and federal leve ...
ended when the
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit refused to reconsider its decision that affirmed a decision by a lower court that the project could proceed. The SELC indicated that it would not pursue the case further. A timeline for the project remains unavailable, however, because the environmental studies may be too old.
References
{{Outer Banks
Toll bridges in North Carolina
Road bridges in North Carolina
Buildings and structures in Currituck County, North Carolina
Proposed bridges in the United States
Transportation in Currituck County, North Carolina