News we dont get from our local news media..Daily Advance..Aug.2, 2014 Editor’s note: This is the first in a series of stories about Currituck County’s worsening traffic situation. CURRITUCK — The scene is not the summer vacation most beach-goers envision. Eight hours stuck in mostly stopped traffic. Horns blaring, people screaming, cars cutting each other off at the turn onto N.C. Highway 12. “Total chaos” is how one unidentified woman described the scene in a call July 19 to the Southern Shores Police Department. The phone message then contained the words Dare and Currituck officials most dread. “We’ve been coming here for 20-some years, and this may be our last time.” The tourism industry is reportedly a billion dollar business in the two counties, but backed-up traffic on weekends threatens the region’s economic livelihood, say many local business owners and county officials. One beach cottage rental company executive said they’re hearing the dreaded “not coming back” message more often than he would like. Jon Summerton, vice president with Twiddy and Company Realtors said more exit surveys by customers say they will not be returning because of traffic problems. “The feedback is increasing in terms of negative reaction,” said Summerton. “It’s steadily getting louder and louder.” Traffic jams have apparently not hurt business this July. Beach rentals are booked, said Summerton. But he’s concerned that chronic congestion will affect future business. What happens when there’s not enough new visitors to replace those who refuse to return, he asked. “It’s a long-time issue that’s going to affect the tourist industry here,” said Summerton. Currituck County Board of Commissioners Chairman Paul O’Neal said he’s bewildered over how the state will resolve the traffic problem now that hopes for a Mid-Currituck Bridge have dimmed. Just two years ago, the seven-mile span linking the Currituck mainland to the Outer Banks was nearing final approval, but lawmakers withdrew funding earmarked for the project. This May, the project scored low under the state’s new highway funding formula, making construction even less likely. In the meantime summer traffic problems are getting worse, said O’Neal. He complained it took him two and a half hours to drive 20 miles from Corolla to the Wright Memorial Bridge one weekend earlier this month. O’Neal’s drive time is typical for summer weekends, said Summerton. A wreck or rainy weather can add another two or three hours. The massive traffic jams also cause problems for residents. Residents complain about being “held hostage” in their homes on summer weekends. If a resident had a heart attack in Lower Currituck, he would have to be lifted out by emergency helicopters to escape the gridlock, O’Neal said. “There’s not another part of the state where this would be tolerated,” said O’Neal. State Highway Patrol Trooper W.D. Copeland said traffic backed up 23 miles to Diggers Dungeon in Poplar Branch more than doubled his response time to an accident last weekend. Driving down the center turn lane between rows of stopped cars, sirens on, to Point Harbor took 35 to 40 minutes longer than usual, he said. Fortunately, no one was injured in the four-car chain collision, so an ambulance was not needed. One business owner in Powells Point said long lines of traffic are also bad for business. Keith Hall, owner of Pointe Golf Club, said locals avoid driving on Caratoke Highway to tee-off on Saturdays and Sundays. Tourists are not stopping either. They don’t want to lose their place in line to stop for a round of golf or bite to eat, he said. “They don’t realize it’s going to take them three to four hours to drive 10 miles,” he said. Hall is a long-time member of Build the Bridge–Preserve Our Roads, Inc. (BB–PR), an organization of individuals and businesses, predominately from the Currituck, Duck, and Southern Shores communities, who support building the Mid-Currituck Bridge. He said the bridge would be good for business. “Traffic costs us a lot of business on Saturdays especially,” said Hall. Not all businesses are complaining about the influx in summertime traffic. Josh Bass, president of the Currituck Chamber of Commerce, said location plays a big role in what businesses benefit. Businesses to the right of southbound traffic that offer restrooms like the extra business the traffic brings. Businesses to the left have a disadvantage. Motorists are less likely to turn against heavy traffic coming in the opposite direction, he said. “When traffic is completely stopped people are much less likely to pull off than when it’s heavy and moving,” said Bass. One beach rental company owner said vacationers keep coming back despite the delays. “It’s a very affordable vacation and a wonderful place once they get here,” said Doug Brindley with Brindley Beach Vacations and Sales. He said vacationers have flocked to the beaches for 20 years and he doesn’t expect traffic back-ups will change that. One tourism official wasn’t so optimistic. “I don’t think people are going to come back. They are absolutely disgusted with how long it takes to get down here,” said newly retired Tourism Director Diane Nordstrom.
Posted on: Sun, 03 Aug 2014 13:54:52 +0000
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