Bridge building limiting access to public water
By JAMIE CAMERON
Tideland News Writer
Public access to the state's rivers and creeks is in jeopardy as the N.C. Department of Transportation continues it's systematic replacement of aging and outdated bridges.
Paul Ferguson, author of the canoe and kayaking guide "Paddling Eastern North Carolina," said citizens are having a hard time finding places to get to the water.
"We lose good access at bridges every day as new bridges go up and old ones are replaced," he explained. "It's a very big issue that's gotten worse as time goes by. It's not that anyone is working against us, it's just that there's little or no consideration."
Members of the Crystal Coast Canoe and Kayak Club are lamenting the recent loss of public access as the White Oak River bridge in Stella is replaced. They are organizing a campaign of vigilance to participate in the planning process of future bridge replacement projects.
"We've asked a number of different people in the club to keep an eye on the bridges in Onslow and Carteret counties (that may be slated for replacement)," said Brian Leavy, club president. "We are giving our full support to efforts to have access available at all of the bridges."
Those efforts have taken an air of urgency as participants of quiet water sports like canoeing, kayaking and fishing, have watched an increasing number of access points covered with treacherous rip-rap as the state's bridges are replaced.
Most recently, user groups learned they would lose access to the White Oak River at the new, $8 million Stella bridge upon its completion sometime this summer. (See related story.)
"It isn't just paddlers (who are concerned)," said Leavy. "It's anyone who wants to walk down to the river without breaking a leg or gouging the bottom of their boat on that rip-rap."
Proponents for public access have found a powerful ally in state Rep. Jean Preston, R-Emerald Isle, who plans to broker an agreement that would require NCDOT to preserve public access at new or replacement bridges.
"I've been hearing from a lot of people who enjoy canoeing and kayaking and are concerned about this issue," said Preston. Last month, she presided over a meeting in Raleigh that brought together representatives from DOT, the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources and paddling enthusiasts.
"They (DOT and DENR) were very open and gave some reasons why they may be able to do some things to accommodate kayakers and why they may not be able to do some other things," said Preston.
The state agencies have asked for a 6-8 week period to develop a plan that will accommodate recreational use groups.
"We feel like we'll have a win-win situation," Preston ventured.
Bill Murray, a current member and former vice president of the CCCKC, said that, although prospects look good for reaching an agreement to facilitate public access, the issue should not be looked upon as exclusive to participants of paddling sports.
"We need to be clear that this is a public rights issue," he said. "If you are a fisherman, a kid with a favorite swimming hole or an artist who wants to get down to the water to paint, this issue affects you. We learned at the meeting that NCDOT plans to replace 70 percent of the state's bridges over the next 10 years. We want to get this thing turned around before we have any more Stella Bridges."
Tideland News Report
Construction crews in Stella are nearly 20 percent of the way to completing an N.C. Department of Transportation project to replace the Stella Bridge spanning the White Oak River.
Jason Peterson, DOT construction engineer out of New Bern, said the $8 million project is 5 percent ahead of schedule, putting a tentative completion date around the middle of the year.
The bridge replacement began last October and will widen the existing span by 11-1/2 feet.