If you drive to Hatteras Island on the Outer Banks, there’s only one way to go: over the Bonner Bridge. The near-three-mile bridge, which first opened in 1963, is the only access to the island other than ferries. It also needs to be replaced. Building that replacement is on hold for now while a lawsuit over its construction plays out in court. Environmental groups have sued the state over its planned replacement, saying it would damage the Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. They want the state to instead build a 17-mile replacement bridge that would swing out over the Pamlico Sound and bypass the refuge.
We wanted to know what residents of Hatteras Island say about the replacement project. Allen Burrus is a Dare County Commissioner representing the island. He's also a lifelong resident.
