Alternatives Eliminated
The N.C. Department of Transportation decided in June 2016 to remove from further study a design option referred to as Alternative 1, which would have included two fixed-span bridges, each located to the west of the existing bridges and touching down on the center island. The decision was based on other alternative designs as well as project feedback received at a public meeting in March 2016.
Alternative designs as well as comments received from the March 2017 Public Meeting were presented to federal, state and local environmental agencies at a meeting on June 15, 2017. Agencies were provided an opportunity to discuss potential impacts associated with each alternative. Based on this information, the Federal Highway Administration along with NCDOT decided not to select Alternatives 2, 3 or 4 based on potential impacts and low public support.