May 24, 2013
What a traffic nightmare on the Alligator River Bridge Tuesday morning! That bridge is a two-lane span between Tyrrell and Dare Counties on Highway 64 at Columbia in Tyrrell County. It jammed in the open position just after 8 a.m., causing a standstill for motorists for a couple hours. A piece of equipment that helps firmly shut the bridge when in the closed position, known as a wedge, came off its track. Throughout the day, transportation crews temporarily opened the bridge to ease traffic build-up, but then closed it to continue repairs. Sailboats and yachts heading North through the Intracoastal Waterway had quite a wait Monday afternoon. Some motorists told us they went around the closed bridge through Elizabeth City to the Outer Banks. That adds two extra hours to get to Kitty Hawk.
