Traffic crosses the newly opened bridge to Oak Island on Nov. 13, 2010. (StarNews file photo)
After complaints from motorists who considered the speed limit on the island side of the new Oak Island bridge a speed trap, the town council voted in February 2011 to ask that it be raised from 35 to 45 mph.
The speed limit now begins at 55 mph as you approach the bridge from N.C. 211, drops to 45 mph closer to the bridge, then to 35 mph – but not until after the intersection with Oak Island Drive.
The $36.6 million bridge opened in November 2010.
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Date posted: December 29, 2010
User-contributed question by:
Russ Cranson
It is a shame that the bridge speed limits are designed to be a speed trap. Every time I cross the bridge I see no less than 2 police waiting to pull people over. On one side of the bride you will have motorists braking to reach 35 mph on a downhill slope while others will be blindly coming over the bridge at 55 mph, the perfect recipe for rear end type collisions. The city should either lower the speed limit to 35 the entire span of the bridge or raise the island side to 45 and lower it after cars are off the incline. Either way it is poor design for speed limits and I think it was done on purpose to generate revenue for the town of Oak Island through traffic violations. They should just admit they want money and make it a toll bridge.