A special presentation dedicated to discussing the status of the Mid-Currituck Bridge, which the State of North Carolina announced in February it could no longer commit to funding, will be held at the beginning of the Southern Shores Town Council’s meeting Tuesday, at 10 a.m., in the Pitts Center, according to a Town news item released today.
Mayor Elizabeth Morey is encouraging residents to attend this meeting “and make their voices heard,” according to the release.
Representatives from the N.C. Dept. of Transportation will be present to update the State’s position on the bridge and answer questions, according to the release.
Local media are expected to attend, as are local N.C. legislative representatives.
Bridge funding, according to the release, “is currently under review through the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) and could be reallocated if strong regional support is not demonstrated.”
Town officials are encouraging residents “to attend the meeting and voice support for maintaining the project’s funding while additional funding sources continue to be explored.”
The State had pledged to commit $142 million to the construction of the 7-mile-long, two-lane bridge, but it is questioning that commitment in light of the reported estimated cost of the bridge skyrocketing to $1.2 billion. Alternate funding to make up the shortfall is a key issue for NCDOT.
According to the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting, the Town Council intends to approve a resolution in support of “the continued inclusion” of the bridge project in the NCDOT STIP. It would like residents to show their support of the Mid-Currituck Bridge in public comments.
The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting is available on the Town website, but as of this writing, the meeting packet has not been posted.
Among other noteworthy items on the agenda are:
- The introduction of the Town’s new (and first-ever) Public Information Officer and Administrative Assistant, Mary Nichols
- An update by Town Manager Cliff Ogburn of the East Dogwood Trail Reconstruction project, which has necessitated road closures this week
- A discussion of an increase in the speed limit on N.C. 12 (Ocean Boulevard and Duck Road) from 35 mph to 40 mph
- A discussion of a Town Code Text Amendment concerning tents, presumably on the beach (the text amendment will be in the meeting packet)
See the meeting agenda at https://mccmeetings.blob.core.usgovcloudapi.net/soshoresnc-pubu/MEET-Agenda-eafc09aadc914edfa3132352db910d68.pdf
CONTINUED RETREAT AFTER THE COUNCIL MEETING . . .
The Town had previously announced that the Town Council would hold a special meeting Tuesday at 11 a.m., after its regular meeting, to continue its discussion of agenda items that it carried over from its March 4 retreat.
The starting time for this meeting has not yet been changed, but we would expect it to be. According to this meeting agenda, the following items are to be discussed:
- Stormwater maintenance at northern town line
- Utility work in the town right-of-way
- Multimodal planning
- Canal maintenance
- Dogwood tree planting
We will provide more relevant information about the first meeting after its packet of materials is posted online.
SURVEY FOR N.C. RESILIENT COASTAL COMMUNITIES PROGRAM
The Town’s news item this morning also seeks residents’ opinions in a survey for the N.C. Resilient Coastal Communities Program (RCCP), which seeks to identify flooding and coastal hazard concerns and develop strategies to protect Southern Shores and make it more resilient.
You may access the short survey here: https://www.inspire-engagement.com/southern-shores-rccp.
Mr. Ogburn will give an RCCP update during his staff report at Tuesday’s meeting.
By Ann G. Sjoerdsma, The Southern Shore Beacon, 4/9/26
The Southern Shores Beacon 