Rabon’s proposal could sink Skyway project

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Cape Fear Skyway was supposed to ease congestion between New Hanover and Brunswick counties. But it might never happen after a proposal from state Sen. Bill Rabon.

Years of planning and people getting their hopes up might have been for nothing.

A proposed amendment from Sen. Rabon would remove the project from special standing in state statute and run it through regular competition for state road funding.

New Hanover County Commissioner Jonathan Barfield says he thinks Rabon is worried politics are playing too big a role in the building process. Barfield, who also serves on the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization board, says the bridge is a big concern for New Hanover and Brunswick counties.

"When you're coming up 74/76, once traffic gets backed up, you're pretty much in gridlock, and it's unfortunate, and I think it's a disadvantage for those folks who live over across the river in Brunswick County," Barfield said.

Barfield says the reality is our community is too large for just two river crossings. He hopes Sen. Rabon has another plan to ease the congestion.

"There's been a lot of work going into looking at how do we cross the Cape Fear," Barfield said. "Matter of fact our Transportation Advisory Committee has put together a work group or a study group to look at different options for crossing the Cape Fear River."

We tried to talk to Sen. Rabon about why he's made this move and what plans he has. He has not returned our calls.