New Oak Island bridge opening delayed again

Star News - The opening of the new Oak Island bridge has been delayed yet again, an N.C. Department of Transportation official said Tuesday.  No official date has been set for the opening of the $36.6 million bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway, but it is now not anticipated until the first or second week in November, said Mark Blalock, assistant resident engineer in the NCDOT Wilmington office.  The estimate had been by the end of October for the last few months.  Construction crews lost a week of work because of the heavy rains and flooding in late September, Blalock said.  Workers must still complete the pavement markings, guard rails and a few other tasks, he said.  Blalock said it is looking more likely that only one lane in either direction will be opened to traffic at first while construction is completed.  Should the bridge open in mid-November, it will be nearly 11 months behind schedule.