thedrifter
03-12-07, 09:09 AM
Another road, another closing
CHRISSY VICK / DAILY NEWS STAFF
March 12, 2007 - 12:00AM
Sneads Ferry residents say they are being pressed on all sides.
Mainly because they are losing access to two of three main routes into Sneads Ferry.
Concerns began with Camp Lejeune's recent announcement of its decision to restrict access to N.C. 172 - a popular route for Sneads Ferry residents to get to the Bear Creek area and Swansboro. A number of citizens were unhappy with the decision.
"The closing of access to 172 represents an unnecessary hardship to motorists of all types who have for many, many years utilized this route," said Melvin Shepard, a Sneads Ferry resident.
But now many are increasingly angered that the N.C. Department of Transportation will be closing part of N.C. 210 later this year for bridge repairs. That main route into Sneads Ferry coming from Jacksonville on U.S. 17 could be closed for as long as three months.
Sneads Ferry impact
Sneads Ferry Community Council chairman John Uhrick says that "insult will be added to injury" when that happens.
"That is going to kill us," Uhrick said. "It's going to be so incredibly devastating that I don't know how we're going to work out of it. We're going to lose two of our three roads into Sneads Ferry. Most people I know are more concerned with the closure of (N.C.) 210 than they are of (N.C) 172."
Uhrick cites economic impacts and increased time for emergency personnel and school transportation among a list of reasons why he says the move is going to hurt the community.
"The EMS will have to add another 11 minutes on their run, which means that much longer in a potentially life threatening situation," he said. "And kids at school have extra time on their school buses."
Closing N.C. 210
Louis Sewell, a member of the N.C. Board of Transportation, said that bridge repairs are not slated to begin on N.C. 210 until October.
"We've been asked by the (Onslow County) commissioners to work around the summer months and we've been able to do that," said Sewell, DOT representative. "We won't start until after the busy beach season."
The bridge in need of repair is a small bridge in the curve of N.C. 210 between Dixon High School at U.S. 17 and Dixon Elementary School along N.C. 210. The construction will take 6 to 7 months and should be finished by May of 2008, he said.
"And only maybe half of that time will the road be closed, because some of that time I've asked them to allow a one-lane traffic pattern," Sewell said.
A traffic signal will also be erected at the intersection of N.C. 172 and N.C. 17 at Folkstone, just outside of Holly Ridge, which will be the only way to access the community from the mainland during months the bridge is closed.
Due to the DOT being unable to secure an environmental permit, they are not able to build a temporary bridge on N.C. 210, Sewell said.
"They wouldn't allow any more structures on Stones Bay Creek that runs into the New River because of some kind of shellfish," he said.
The estimated cost of the bridge is $1.5 million, though inflation in concrete and steel could drive the price up, Sewell said. The bridge was due for repair last year, but the funding wasn't available. The DOT budget has been tight due to revenues for road repairs being significantly less in recent years, he said.
"(The bridge) has been there a large number of years," Sewell said. "There is some deterioration, though it's not in danger of collapsing. But you need to get started on it before you have to close it permanently."
Restricting access to N.C. 172
Many Sneads Ferry residents say the N.C. 172 shortcut saves a lot of time by avoiding Jacksonville's traffic - especially for those who live directly across the high-rise bridge from Camp Lejeune. But base officials say that restricting access is necessary for an ongoing increase in security aboard Camp Lejeune.
"We are restricting access at our gates at (N.C.) 172, just as we do at all of our other gates," said Col. Brant Bailey, director for training and operations on the base, at the time. "It's in response to an ongoing evaluation we've had of our security here at Camp Lejeune. We found that the free access to 172 is not congruent with our security requirements."
Restricting the road is not in response to a "specific or immediate threat," he said, but extends from an ongoing security evaluation done by the base and a recent study conducted by the Department of Defense.
A legal document signed in 1943 by the N.C. Highway Commission gives the commanding officer of Camp Lejeune the right to restrict access to N.C. 172 temporarily or full-time, Sewell said.
Marine wife Mercy Carr is among those who agree with the decision to restrict access to the road. She says she has long thought free access to N.C. 172 was a threat to those who live and work aboard the base.
But Uhrick says that non-military residents have used the road for years without a problem. North Topsail Beach officials are also unhappy with the decision, saying that they will be approaching the base about the issue soon.
Sewell says a different problem involves the high-rise bridge that connects Sneads Ferry to the back gate of Camp Lejeune.
"The DOT could abandon the high rise bridge that goes across the New River because it's closed to the public," he said. "It takes thousands of dollars to keep it up in maintenance."
The DOT will be erecting signs on U.S. 17 to inform the public that access to N.C. 172 will be restricted to those with Department of Defense decals or other legitimate base passes. N.C. state maps, which are printed every year, will also be updated to indicate the changes.
In a press release, base officials said that changes would be enforced on April 2, but later said it was a proposed date "subject to change" for security reasons. No date is yet available to release, according to a base spokesman. For more information visit www.lejeune.usmc.mil or call Camp Lejeune Public Affairs at 451-7440.
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.
Ellie
CHRISSY VICK / DAILY NEWS STAFF
March 12, 2007 - 12:00AM
Sneads Ferry residents say they are being pressed on all sides.
Mainly because they are losing access to two of three main routes into Sneads Ferry.
Concerns began with Camp Lejeune's recent announcement of its decision to restrict access to N.C. 172 - a popular route for Sneads Ferry residents to get to the Bear Creek area and Swansboro. A number of citizens were unhappy with the decision.
"The closing of access to 172 represents an unnecessary hardship to motorists of all types who have for many, many years utilized this route," said Melvin Shepard, a Sneads Ferry resident.
But now many are increasingly angered that the N.C. Department of Transportation will be closing part of N.C. 210 later this year for bridge repairs. That main route into Sneads Ferry coming from Jacksonville on U.S. 17 could be closed for as long as three months.
Sneads Ferry impact
Sneads Ferry Community Council chairman John Uhrick says that "insult will be added to injury" when that happens.
"That is going to kill us," Uhrick said. "It's going to be so incredibly devastating that I don't know how we're going to work out of it. We're going to lose two of our three roads into Sneads Ferry. Most people I know are more concerned with the closure of (N.C.) 210 than they are of (N.C) 172."
Uhrick cites economic impacts and increased time for emergency personnel and school transportation among a list of reasons why he says the move is going to hurt the community.
"The EMS will have to add another 11 minutes on their run, which means that much longer in a potentially life threatening situation," he said. "And kids at school have extra time on their school buses."
Closing N.C. 210
Louis Sewell, a member of the N.C. Board of Transportation, said that bridge repairs are not slated to begin on N.C. 210 until October.
"We've been asked by the (Onslow County) commissioners to work around the summer months and we've been able to do that," said Sewell, DOT representative. "We won't start until after the busy beach season."
The bridge in need of repair is a small bridge in the curve of N.C. 210 between Dixon High School at U.S. 17 and Dixon Elementary School along N.C. 210. The construction will take 6 to 7 months and should be finished by May of 2008, he said.
"And only maybe half of that time will the road be closed, because some of that time I've asked them to allow a one-lane traffic pattern," Sewell said.
A traffic signal will also be erected at the intersection of N.C. 172 and N.C. 17 at Folkstone, just outside of Holly Ridge, which will be the only way to access the community from the mainland during months the bridge is closed.
Due to the DOT being unable to secure an environmental permit, they are not able to build a temporary bridge on N.C. 210, Sewell said.
"They wouldn't allow any more structures on Stones Bay Creek that runs into the New River because of some kind of shellfish," he said.
The estimated cost of the bridge is $1.5 million, though inflation in concrete and steel could drive the price up, Sewell said. The bridge was due for repair last year, but the funding wasn't available. The DOT budget has been tight due to revenues for road repairs being significantly less in recent years, he said.
"(The bridge) has been there a large number of years," Sewell said. "There is some deterioration, though it's not in danger of collapsing. But you need to get started on it before you have to close it permanently."
Restricting access to N.C. 172
Many Sneads Ferry residents say the N.C. 172 shortcut saves a lot of time by avoiding Jacksonville's traffic - especially for those who live directly across the high-rise bridge from Camp Lejeune. But base officials say that restricting access is necessary for an ongoing increase in security aboard Camp Lejeune.
"We are restricting access at our gates at (N.C.) 172, just as we do at all of our other gates," said Col. Brant Bailey, director for training and operations on the base, at the time. "It's in response to an ongoing evaluation we've had of our security here at Camp Lejeune. We found that the free access to 172 is not congruent with our security requirements."
Restricting the road is not in response to a "specific or immediate threat," he said, but extends from an ongoing security evaluation done by the base and a recent study conducted by the Department of Defense.
A legal document signed in 1943 by the N.C. Highway Commission gives the commanding officer of Camp Lejeune the right to restrict access to N.C. 172 temporarily or full-time, Sewell said.
Marine wife Mercy Carr is among those who agree with the decision to restrict access to the road. She says she has long thought free access to N.C. 172 was a threat to those who live and work aboard the base.
But Uhrick says that non-military residents have used the road for years without a problem. North Topsail Beach officials are also unhappy with the decision, saying that they will be approaching the base about the issue soon.
Sewell says a different problem involves the high-rise bridge that connects Sneads Ferry to the back gate of Camp Lejeune.
"The DOT could abandon the high rise bridge that goes across the New River because it's closed to the public," he said. "It takes thousands of dollars to keep it up in maintenance."
The DOT will be erecting signs on U.S. 17 to inform the public that access to N.C. 172 will be restricted to those with Department of Defense decals or other legitimate base passes. N.C. state maps, which are printed every year, will also be updated to indicate the changes.
In a press release, base officials said that changes would be enforced on April 2, but later said it was a proposed date "subject to change" for security reasons. No date is yet available to release, according to a base spokesman. For more information visit www.lejeune.usmc.mil or call Camp Lejeune Public Affairs at 451-7440.
Contact staff writer Chrissy Vick at cvick@freedomenc.com or by calling 353-1171, ext. 239.
Ellie