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Forged letters add more uncertainty to Mid-Currituck Bridge

Posted at 7:13 PM, Jun 27, 2012
and last updated 2012-06-27 19:13:45-04

There is more uncertainty for the future of the proposed Mid-Currituck Bridge after a forged letter requesting funding for the project was sent to North Carolina state senators on June 14.

The letters contained the electronic signature of Jim Trogdon, NCDOT's Chief Operating Officer and asked for funding for the bridge and another project in the 2013 budget.

Trogdon had never reviewed or authorized the letter and later sent a second letter to lawmakers asking them to disregard the letter.

On Wednesday, two DOT employees involved in adding the signature testified before the Senate Rules Committee that adding the signature was an honest mistake and that they were not trying to mislead lawmakers.

Randall Edwards, with the Currituck County Manager's Office, tells NewsChannel 3 that right now the county is on a "wait and see" status with the project.

He says the county is very supportive of building the bridge and they are watching developments in Raleigh closely.

Right now, Edwards says that they understand planning money for the bridge is included in the 2013 budget, but gap funding to actually pay for its construction is not.

The Mid-Currituck Bridge would connect US 158 on the mainland with NC 12 on the Outer Banks.

Supporters claim it would be an important link and would help improve hurricane evacuations.

Those opposed say it would destroy the secluded nature of the northern beaches and problems with congestion have not been addressed.