North Carolina opens $252m bridge over Oregon Inlet to traffic

North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDoT) in the US has opened the $252m bridge over Oregon Inlet to traffic.

The new 2.8 mile-long structure will replace the existing 2.4 mile-long Herbert C Bonner Bridge, which was built in 1963.

The total project length is 3.5 miles, including new road approaches to the bridge.

NCDoT board member Allen Moran said: “It’s a great day for all residents and visitors to the Outer Banks. This new bridge will be a critical lifeline to the people and the pristine beaches of Hatteras Island for generations to come.”

In July 2011, the NCDoT awarded a design-build contract to PCL Civil Constructors with HDR Engineering of the Carolinas as the lead design firm.

Construction work on the new structure started in March 2016. The new bridge rises 90ft above Oregon Inlet at its highest point, with 8ft foot shoulders on both sides.

With an expected lifespan of at least 100-years, the bridge has been built using stainless, reinforcing steel and concrete to provide for extra protection against its saltwater environment.

In addition, the foundation of the bridge is longer and driven deeper into the inlet floor to avoid the issues with sand washing away from around the piles, which interferes with the existing bridge.

Demolition of the old Herbert C Bonner Bridge will now start and is expected to be complete by the end of 2019.

A 1,000ft section of the south end of the old bridge will remain in place as a pedestrian walkway.