"Air space."

For years and years now, the popular American Tobacco Trail has been due a bridge to carry it across Interstate 40. A myriad of hikers, bikers and other folks have waited, advocated, waited, pushed and waited some more through a seemingly interminable series of fits and starts.

More fits than starts. Some more were on the City Council's agenda Thursday, including "air space."

It seems that, while the American Tobacco Trail belongs to the city, Interstate 40 is controlled by the Federal Highway Administration by way of the state transportation department and therefore, in order to legally build the bridge the city has to strike a deal with NCDOT for permission to use the open space above the road.

We couldn't make this up.

The deal came up for the City Council's action - so to speak - complete with a seven-page contract and a two-page memo from the public-works department, affirming that the deal had been reviewed by the City Attorney's office, did not need review by the Equal Opportunity office and wouldn't cost any "new costs."

One may only assume the attorneys' time, public-workers' time and the paper and electrons involved didn't count as "new costs." We don't know about the electrons, paper and time involved on the Raleigh side of the deal - including that of the Manager of Right of Way, who already signed off.

Two months ago.

One may only imagine what other arrangements must be made to use the state's (feds'?) third-dimensional claims. Suppose a Canada goose flies through, in inadvertent violation? Is it intercepted on the wing and escorted to one of those "wildlife impoundments" at Jordan Lake, where it is held for deportation if it can't show a proper visa?

Just kidding (we hope). No kidding, though, on Thursday the council also had to agree to talk about a site plan and a "quasi-judicial public hearing" on a "major special use permit" for the ATT bridge.

The bridge went onto the local wish list for NCDOT in 1999; back then, it looked like $650,000 would get the job done. That's $845,469.19 in this year's money. Estimated cost now: $1.7 million.

There was enough federal funding and private commitment to build a bridge, or so it was said, in 2002. In 2004, city authorities said construction should begin in 2005. In 2006 a petition went around urging City Hall to get a move on.

A designer was hired. In November 2007, the city held a public meeting to say it didn't know when and didn't know how much. In December, it announced it needed more money. A year later, the City Council approved a design.

Eighteen months later, we're dealing over air space.

Sure, building a bridge is no small undertaking. You've got to check your ground, get your bids and make sure the thing won't be an eyesore. You do want things to get done right.

You also just want things to get done. Period.

Air space. Well, that that's over I-40 must be the hottest air in town.