NC Businesses Sue PCL Construction Over Outer Banks Power Outages During Bridge Build

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PCL Construction Enterprises, Inc. and PCL Civil Constructors, Inc. are staring down a proposed class action that alleges the companies are responsible for damage to the main power transmission line for Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands that the case says occurred during construction to replace the Bonner Bridge, which connects the Outer Banks to mainland North Carolina. According to the 12-page complaint, the defendants’ alleged negligence caused widespread power outages for residents and businesses on the islands, and resulted in North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper declaring a state of emergency and ordering a mandatory evacuation from the islands during their busiest (and most profitable) tourism season.

The case, filed by Island Vibe Café, Morning Star Stables, TBM Construction and two individuals, notes that on or around July 27, 2017, the defendants allegedly informed the Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative that a steel casing had been driven into the “underground transmission cable that runs between the south end of the Bonner Bridge and the overhead riser pole.”

“The power outage caused significant economic and personal hardship to individuals and families who were visiting, or who had planned to visit, the Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands area, as well as to businesses operating on the Islands,” the lawsuit claims.