DOT will close Bonner Bridge this afternoon

Dare County Commissioner Allen Burrus of Hatteras has confirmed that Dare County officials have been told by the North Carolina Department of Transportation that the Bonner Bridge will be closed this afternoon.

Burrus said Dare officials have had three conference calls so far today with DOT, which says that another scouring problem with a piling has been found.  He said it was his impression that this problem is different from the scouring that caused DOT to inspect the bridge last Friday.

Dare officials were also told that the closure might be as short as a week or it could be as long as four months, depending on how DOT decides to address the scouring problem.

Ferries are already moving from the Hatteras Inlet ferry operation to Rodanthe and Stumpy Point to begin operation of the emergency ferry route across the Pamlico Sound.

Island Free Press will bring you more news on the impending bridge closure as we get more information this afternoon.