Lincoln Co. residents to ask leaders for $50K needed to fix bridge

LINCOLN COUNTY, N.C. — A Lincoln County community will ask local leaders Monday night for a solution to fix the only road they have to get in and out of their neighborhood.

Flood waters washed away the Iron Station road two weeks ago, and because it's a private road, neither the county or the state will pay the $50,000 to rebuild it.

Robbie Lowman hopes to cross the walking bridge and bring back a promise of money to replace the section of Amity Lane that was washed out by heavy rain two weeks ago.

It is a private road, so the state Department of Transportation will not replace it.

Lowman and 25 other families have had to invent ways to get to and from work.

"We are just on our own right now," Lowman said.

He will ask county commissioners for $50,000 to rebuild.

"We need the help, any help whatsoever," he said.

Lowman also wants the county to help cut through the expensive permitting process required by the Army Corps of Engineers.

"It may be $6,000, $8,000, $10,000 for the first permit," Lowman said.

Interim County Manager Marha Lide said the county doesn't have money budgeted for road construction.

"Those neighbors clearly have to be part of the solution here," Lide said.

Lide showed Channel 9 the builders covenant agreed to by all property owners on Amity Lane.

It said, "Obligation for the repair and maintenance of said private roads shall be the sole responsibility of the owners of the lots."

"Now is a really good time for them to act," Lide said.

She said the county found a $150,000 federal loan program that allows people who live on the road to pay $125 per year for 30 years.

But all neighbors, even the 47 who have no impact from the washed-out road, must agree to the payment plan.

"It's out of the question. We cannot get the people together," Lowman said.

He knows his chances with commissioners are slim, but he said he will make a plea.

One contractor told Channel 9 even if Lowman and his neighbors got everything they wanted from commissioners Monday night and crews began work Tuesday, it would still take more than a week to finish the job.