30 Years and $61 Million Later, No Bridge in Sight for Mid-Currituck Bridge Project

The North Carolina Office of the State Auditor has released a Rapid Response Special Report detailing the status of the Mid-Currituck Bridge project, a proposed seven-mile bridge connecting the mainland to the Outer Banks.

The project was first initiated in 1995. It was proposed to reduce travel time to the Outer Banks and facilitate a more efficient hurricane evacuation route. However, despite decades of planning - and $61 million in total expenditures to date - no construction contract has been awarded and no baseline budget or schedule is in place.

"The people of Currituck County following this project have been dragged along for 30 years," said State Auditor Dave Boliek. "What the team at the Office of State Auditor found is that despite spending money, no dirt has been moved. Taxpayers are more than $60 million in the hole on a 30-year project that certainly remains far from completion."

OSA's report shows the projected cost of the bridge has more than doubled since federal approval in 2019. The estimated cost used as the basis for federal approval was $490 million, but that figure has now grown to $1.2 billion, according to data from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). The increase is driven by rising construction costs, expanded administrative expenses, and changes in delivery models.

The project faces a funding shortfall of $702-$832 million, even when accounting for the $173 million in committed State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) funds. OSA's report includes updated studies showing daily vehicle counts and tourism growth are significantly lower than previously estimated. State Auditor Boliek presented the report to the Currituck County Board of Commissioners.