Ideas You May Consider Including In Your Letters

• The delays in the state-sponsored regional transportation study that includes the Mid-Currituck Sound Bridge mean that the study will not be completed until 2008 at the earliest. Assuming further delays, the bridge construction would not start until 2012.

• The need for the bridge stands on its own merits and should be uncoupled from the regional transportation study to expedite bridge construction and relieve unacceptable traffic congestion on US 158 and NC 12.

• The bridge will provide economic stimulus to mainland Currituck County, make the northern Outer Banks' beaches more easily accessible, and therefore desirable as a tourist destination.

• Most importantly the bridge will allow vacationers and residents a safer, more economical way to reach the mainland, not only for services but also for security in the event of a hurricane.

• One of the tasks of the regional transportation study is to evaluate the benefits and costs of widening US 158 from Barco to the Wright Memorial Bridge and NC 12 through Southern Shores and Duck. Widening these routes will not relieve traffic congestion due to the constriction caused by the Wright Memorial Bridge, where 4 lanes of heavy traffic would be merging into 2 lanes to transit the bridge. In addition, the character of lower Currituck and Duck and Southern Shores would be destroyed, in addition to the tremendous loss of property.