A bridge spanning Oregon Inlet was not a sure thing.
A bridge crossing Oregon Inlet was controversial before the Bonner Bridge was built, with construction beginning in 1963. Joy Crist, writing in her Editor’s Blog for the Island Free Press, takes a fascinating look back in time.
“There has always been a public fascination with the bridge that spans Oregon Inlet.
Hundreds of stories have been written about the new bridge’s construction since the project broke ground on March 8, 2016, and when the county and state celebrated the imminent completion of the replacement bridge via a February “Community Day,” an estimated 1,000-2,000 people showed up to take a stroll on the concrete structure in 30ish degree weather.
But the new bridge certainly isn’t without controversy. Years before the shovels hit the dirt at the 2016 groundbreaking ceremony, lawsuits and debates abounded on whether a 17-mile long bridge or the current 2.8 mile-long structure should be the preferred option, and it took decades of work to clear the massive hurdles and red tape in order to move forward.”
For the complete Island Free Press story click here.