BS: So Kelly, you tuned into this meeting – what went on?
KK: The main point was to go over a legislative update and identify possible alternative funding sources for needed transportation projects – especially the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. That project is kind of in crisis right now, even though the feds maintained the $242 million grant that was frozen for months by DOGE cuts. Here’s Chase Horton, a Government Affairs Specialist with Maynard Nexsen, explaining why that money isn’t sufficient.
Chase Horton: “That gap has increased exponentially, because the estimated cost is now $1.1 billion. The federal grant, which as of last week was unpaused, is $242 million, which was supposed to cover 50% of the project. It now covers less than 25% of the project.”…