Hatteras Island, N.C. (WTKR) - Two sides trying to reach an agreement in the fight over replacing the aging Bonner Bridge have requested the assistance of a court-appointed mediator.
A joint-motion filed with the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals says the North Carolina Department of Transportation, Defenders of Wildlife and the Southern Environmental Law Center "have been engaged in active settlement negotiations since August 2014 in an effort to resolve the issues."
It goes on to say that "substantial progress" towards settlement has been made, but "the assistance of a mediator will be helpful,
perhaps essential, in resolving the remaining issues and achieving a settlement of both cases."
The Bonner Bridge is the only highway link to and from Hatteras Island on North Carolina's Outer Banks.
You can read the full motion here: Joint motion for referral to the Fourth Circuit mediation program
Related:
Talks underway to break stalemate in Bonner Bridge replacement
Court ruling puts Bonner Bridge replacement on hold again
When could a new Bonner Bridge be built?
Engineers work to determine if Bonner Bridge is safe for traffic
NCDOT starts dredging in hopes of reopening the Bonner Bridge
