The coastland times with which is combined the pilot and herald of Belhaven and Swan Quarter. [volume] (Manteo, N.C.) 1959-1973, 1961-10-20

Contract for the, construction of
the proposed Oregon Inlet win be
let in January 1862, if plans of the
North Carolina Highway Commits
sion are carried out. Previous esti-
mates have placed the cost Of the
bridge in excess of $3,0O0,0OO.
The announcement was made
Wednesday during a meeting con-
Quoted by Captain r. j. Rappaport,
deputy district U. s. Army Engi-
neer of Wilmington, in the Dare
County courthouse by State High
way officials.
Representative Herbert C. Bon
ner of the First N. C. Congressional
District, who has introduced a bill
in Congress whereby one fourth Of
the total costs would be paid for
by the National Park Service, was
present at the meeting. The re-
mainder, would be provided one
fourth by the State of North Caro-
lima and one half by the Federal
Bureau of Public Roads.
Mr.. Bonner who strongly urged
early construction of the bridge.
POINTED out that traffic to and
from the Cape Hatteras National
Seashore has increased to such a
point that the present ferry SER
Ivlce, which the bridge would re-
place, has become intolerable at
times of peak travel. He also stated
Importance of the bridge to the
nations defense.
The Congressman was given as
Isurance by Captain Rappaport, that
~. S. Army Engineers had concur
red in the location and construction
Iof the bridge which would start
southwark justeast of Oregon Inlet
Fishing Center and extend south
westward and then south for some
1880 feet to a point southwest
ward of Oregon Inlet Coast Guard
lstation.
i The actual bridge would be less
than the distance from shore to
shore of the new Alligator River
ISpan which extends for approx
mately $4,000 feet, but due to the
mature of the construction it would
lcost more. The Alligator River
bridge, expected to be completed by
christmas, with its approach on the
East Lake side of river will have
Icost approximately three million
dollars to complete.
| A feature Of the Oregon Inlet
bridge would be fixed span with
$50 feet horizontal clarence and
height over the main channel of
I65 feet, above mean low water.
| Wayland w. Baum, speaking for
the Oregon Inlet Sportsfishing
Guides Association requested that
the builders of the bridge also con-
struct fixed span to elevate the
bridge for a vertical clearance of
lS5 feet over the channel near the
north shore of Oregon Inlet.
without such q clearance the
fleet of some 40 or more sports
Fishing craft and many CONNER
cial fishing vessels basin at the
Fishing Center at various seasons
of the year, would have to travel
some eight miles farther than at
present to reach the ocean and fish
ing waters" he said.
H. A. Greet Jr., operator Of the
fishing center concurred with
Baum, stateing the fishing boats
could not pass under the bridge
via the north channel with a clear
ance of only is feet, as proposed at
that point.
w. S. Winslow, assistant state
highway engineer in charge of
bridges advised the group that it
would cost several hundred thous-
and dollars to comply with the re-
quest for IS foot vertical clearance
over north channel, as the north
approach would have to be extended
several hundred feet and that many
spans leading to and from the
clearance would have to be changed,
at great cost.
David Stick, chairman Of the
Dare County Board of Commission
ers stated that through resolution
his board had requested that side
or cawalks be provided at the
bridge for pedestrians and fisher
men. The original resolution was
presented in April this year and he
Expressed the hope on behalf Of
his board through resolution passed
earlier today that the walkways be
CONSTRUCTED.
The Board Of Engineers conduct
ing the meeting included in addition
to Capt. Rappaport, DON A. Card
ner, G. d. Greer, C. A. Tucker and
Mrs. Geraldine w. Evans, civilian
attaches Of the district engineers
office.
Others speaking before the board
See BRIDGE Page Six