North Carolina DOT Closes Bonner Bridge Over Safety Concerns

The N.C. Department of Transportation is closing the Bonner Bridge on the Outer Banks because of immediate safety concerns.

A statement on Tuesday said routine sonar scanning identified areas where too much sand has eroded from the support structure. As department crews continued to monitor the conditions, inspections revealed additional areas of concern, leading to the decision to close the bridge.

The bridge will remain closed until the department can bring in additional resources to inspect the bridge and make necessary repairs to fortify it. NCDOT has declared a state of emergency as a way of expediting the process and steps are already underway to begin repair work as soon as possible.

The Herbert C. Bonner Bridge was designed to last 30 years when it was built in 1963.