hp277,

That's the average daily traffic volumes; peak traffic during the summer is closer to the volume I gave. Even 4800 cars a day would be very difficult to handle by ferry. Like I said, a toll on this bridge makes sense if the permanent residents get an exemption.

It's not 15,000 cars a day - not even close. Check the NCDOT traffic counts from 2008 - the number is 4,800 per day.

http://www.ncdot.org/travel/statemapping/trafficvolumemaps/default.html

4800/day x 365 days/year x 50 year payoff of span = 87.6 million cars. Even a $10 toll that exempts no one won't pay for it.

For comparison, I-40 in RTP carries 140,000 cars per day. Why are we spending a billion dollars in Dare County??

Unfortunately a ferry isn't an option; the Bonner Bridge carries about 15000 vehicles daily; that is a LOT of ferry trips, and the route they would have to take is so full of sand bars they can't go straight from one side of the sound to the other.

I like the idea of tolling the bridge and exempting the permanent residents from having to pay it. An electronic toll system similar to what's proposed for "NC 540" would work, just give the permanent residents one that says "already paid" and let it go. The Outer Banks are a national tourist destination, it's perfectly reasonable to expect everyone to help pay for a bridge to out there.

Oh, and btw, part of the Outer Banks is most definitely a wildlife refuge. Look at a state map sometime and see what Pea Island is called.

well it would solve 2 problems no more hwy 12 to flood and a new bridge nc will spend that on a new bridge and upgrades to 12

Why am I not surprised that Senator Basnight has something to do with this! What’s the matter isn’t his sister getting everything she wants off of State Employees yet with her husband having the contract to replinish the sand at Bladhead Island and subcontracting thru Clancy and Theys the new pier in Dare County?