As reported in the Daily Advance, The County Commissioners do not support a concrete barrier on US 158. The full article is below:
Currituck opposes bridge design that limits Waterlily Road access
Concept ends left turns from U.S. 158
By JENNIFER PREYSS
Staff Writer
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Currituck officials say they are opposed to a proposed design for the Mid-Currituck Bridge that would eliminate left turns from US Highway 158 onto Waterlily Road.
In an e-mail to a North Carolina Turnpike Authority engineer last week, County Manager Dan Scanlon said the county has concerns about the bridge design because it proposes constructing a concrete barrier on U.S. 158 between the J.P. Knapp Bridge and the site where the new bridge would be built.
If the barrier is built, motorists traveling south on U.S. 158 could not turn left onto Waterlily Road as they now do. Instead, they would have to continue south on U.S. 158, drive past the Mid-Currituck Bridge interchange and make a U-turn at the relocated Aydlett Road intersection.
Jennifer Harris, an engineer with the Turnpike Authority, said in e-mail to Scanlon that the change would mean that motorists wishing to turn left from U.S. 158 onto Waterlily Road would have a detour of about a mile.
In addition, motorists would no longer be able to turn left from Waterlily onto U.S. 158. Motorists wishing to travel southward from Waterlily Road would first have to turn right on U.S. 158 and head northward, Harris said in her e-mail. They would have to cross the Knapp Bridge, proceed to the Worth Guard Road intersection and make a U-turn, she said. From there, they would have to cross back over the Knapp Bridge a second time to get southward on U.S. 158. The barrier would require motorists to drive approximately 2.5 miles longer than they do now, Harris said.
In his e-mail, Scanlon advised Harris that county officials do not support the design.
“...Please be advised that Currituck County will go on record opposing such a design,” Scanlon wrote.
Board of Commissioners Chairman Owen Etheridge said the design does not benefit Currituck residents who will be the primary users of the road.
“I don’t see any benefit for any local residents; it only benefits the traveling public,” Etheridge said. “It’s neither convenient or safe and as a commissioner I can’t endorse the project and I won’t.”
Etheridge also points out that in emergencies, the one- and two-mile diversions may affect fire and emergency service response times.
Steve Dewitt, the Turnpike Authority’s chief engineer, said the bridge concept is just that, a concept. He said bridge designers recognize the proposed concrete divide along U.S. 158 may warrant some changes. In fact, they’re currently talking with state Department of Transportation officials to develop another design, he said.
“This is very pre-mature, for now it is just a concept,” Dewitt said. “We’re looking at different alternatives with our number one priority surrounding (driver) safety.”
Dewitt said the there is no timeline for when the final bridge design will be completed. However, the final design will include input from local governments and residents, he said.
“The bottom line is that we’re far from being done with the (plans),” Dewitt said. “We will go back to the drawing board no matter what.”
