The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) recently opened a new bridge over Oregon Inlet.
The bridge replaces the Herbert C. Bonner Bridge, built in 1963.
Construction of the $252 million, 2.8 miles long bridge with 8-foot shoulders on each side began March 2016. At its highest point, the bridge is 90 feet above Oregon Inlet.
The bridge is built to last 100 years, NCDOT said. It was built with stainless reinforcing steel, a material that provides extra protection from corrosion in a salt-water environment, and is the first bridge in the state to use the material.
“It’s a great day for all residents and visitors to the Outer Banks,” Allen Moran, NCDOT board member, said. “This new bridge will be a critical lifeline to the people and the pristine beaches of Hatteras Island for generations to come.”
Demolition of the old bridge soon will begin and will be completed by late December. A 1,000-foot section of the south end will be kept as a pedestrian walkway.
On Feb. 9, NCDOT held an informal Community Day event. On April 2, a formal dedication of the bridge is scheduled.
The new bridge has not been named.