Federal court dismisses appeal over jug-handle bridge

By on January 24, 2019

A federal appeals court has dismissed continued efforts by Hatteras Island property owners and residents to halt construction of the “jug-handle” bridge over the Pamlico Sound.

In a decision published Wednesday, the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court’s dismissal of claims that the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration violated the National Environmental Policy Act and the Department of Transportation Act in approving the 2.4-mile-long bridge over the sound to bypass northern Rodanthe.

Save Our Sound OBX Inc. and six individual plaintiffs brought the original action in February 2017 in U.S District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina against the NCDOT and the highway administration.

The group said that instead of basing their choice on an objective analysis of the environmental impacts of the various alternatives, as required by state and federal law, officials unlawfully predetermined their selection of the “jug-handle” bridge pursuant to a backroom deal struck with the Southern Environmental Law Center.

Last June, U.S. District Court Judge Louise Flanagan issued a 46-page ruling that dismissed the claims.
Save Our Sound OBX appealed the decision to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, which considered the case and issued its decision Jan. 23.

Comments

  • Carter McKay

    A group of idiots with too much money and far too little sense!

    January 24, 2019 @ 10:37 pm

  • Willy c

    They should call it the jug head bridge

    January 25, 2019 @ 5:11 am

  • Local obxer

    The state should move the houses around the sides of the new bridge. What a eyesore. Once a beautiful million dollar sound view deminished to concrete. The state should plan better. Let me ask this question again if it were some statechnical or fed bigwig would they not consider more carefully the placement of the bridge? I hope those aren’t rental homes either they will stay empty once word gets out!

    January 25, 2019 @ 6:08 am

  • Jeff

    I definitely WOULD NOT stay in one of those houses. They are going to kill that awesome view. What a shame. OBX is not what it once was. It’s may seem like an improvement but it’s taking the lure away.

    January 25, 2019 @ 9:00 am

  • Koo Flocks

    Build that bridge!

    January 25, 2019 @ 9:06 am

  • Michael

    Lol they won’t stay empty. Most are rental homes, but they won’t stay empty. I agree with some points y’all are making , but one thing I’ve learned in 40 years here, the obsession or love, whatever you want to call it, grows and grows.

    January 25, 2019 @ 11:03 am

  • Seal

    I’m was surprised to learn that a 2.4 mile bridge blocks the view of a couple of hundred miles of the sound !!!
    Who would have known !!!

    January 25, 2019 @ 11:36 am

  • obxmike

    Just as long as it doesn’t affect your property values, what do you care? If they aren’t rented out, isn’t that a loss of revenue for Raleigh? Maybe on second thought, less money going West IS a good idea. Who woulda thunk?

    January 25, 2019 @ 1:56 pm

  • Salvo Jimmy

    As I recall if this was a 3 judge appeal court panel ruling, it can still be appealed to the full court of appeals.

    Article does not address that.

    January 26, 2019 @ 4:47 pm

  • Up North

    I can see how the causeway/bridge has it over the need to restore the dunes and NC Highway 12 after storm overwash there above Rodanthe. As a matter of fact, I was surprised that a bridge was built when the new inlet wasn’t filled in like the one near Hatteras Village some yeas ago. Is there an entirely popular alternative?

    January 29, 2019 @ 6:46 am