Building Bridges, Saving A Pier

Davis Canal bridge at Middleton Avenue will close on December 1st as part of the second Oak Island bridge construction, and the fate of the Yaupon Pier still remains up in the air after adjournment of a special meeting by the Oak Island Town Council.

Middleton Avenue at Davis Canal will close on December 1st for 165 construction days or fewer so that Lee Construction Company of the Carolinas can construct a new canal bridge. This is only a small part of preparations for Oak Island’s second bridge over the ICW for which construction is also underway on Highway 211 by Midway Road.

Beach Pantry convenience store owner, Mike Oxford, is optimistic, hoping that the canal bridge road will open before the 165-day limit so that his Middleton Avenue business can resume normal operations. The timing is good for him as he usually closes around Christmas anyway. Also, this particular construction company has a record of early completions. Another reason he looks forward to the new canal bridge is that it marks a step toward the ultimate completion of the second Oak Island bridge; this should bring him even more opportunities for business. However, in the meantime, with the price of gasoline on the high side, he expects fewer sales since people will probably not be inclined to drive all the way from 40th Street down to his store just to buy something and say hello. If you come to Oak Island, drop in down there to see him at the Beach Pantry…just not around Christmas when he’s closed.

Meanwhile, back at the East end of the island, Yaupon Pier is still in a state of limbo for the town of Oak Island. The recent special meeting of the town council, held before a standing-room-only crowd, ended without change for the town’s decision NOT to purchase the pier, contrary to what some thought might happen. At the specially-called meeting, Mayor Johnie Vereen could not provide enough financial reasons to persuade dissenting Council members to vote in favor of a multi-million dollar pay-out for the pier. The concern continues to focus on debt, that is, taking the town deeper into debt by purchasing the pier. The special meeting was adjourned, and the town is no farther along in finding a way to keep the pier. Outside, picketers sought the support of passing motorists, seeking honks either in favor of supporting the town’s purchase of the bridge or in favor of not doing so. Either way, the situation is a sticky one.

Looks like a lot of bridges (real AND figurative) need to be built in the coming months.