Project Overview
Public Comment
Planning and development are underway to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge in Wilmington. The 0.66-mile bridge carries U.S. 17/U.S. 76/U.S. 421 across the Cape Fear River between Brunswick and New Hanover counties.
The bridge replacement would help improve traffic congestion and mobility on a corridor that connects local communities and carries trucks transporting freight to and from the Port of Wilmington.
Built in 1969, the existing four-lane, steel vertical-lift bridge is becoming functionally obsolete (a bridge that can no longer effectively service current traffic demands).
While the existing bridge is safe, it is reaching the end of its lifecycle and must be monitored, inspected and maintained on a more frequent basis.
Traffic delays due to repair and maintenance activities and the operation of the bridge lift cause congestion and make travel times unreliable. The existing bridge also lacks bicycle and pedestrian lanes to support other modes of transportation.
Upcoming Public Meetings
There are no upcoming public meetings for this project.
Next Steps
After the comment period ends on Oct. 25, the project team will meet to review the comments received and prepare a public comment summary, which will be posted on the project website.
NCDOT will meet with local government and agency partners to review public comments in conjunction with subsequent technical studies to select a preferred alternative. The alternative selection is anticipated fall 2025.
Project Funding
This project is listed as Project HB-0039 in the
N.C. Department of Transportation's State Transportation Improvement Program and is funded only for preliminary engineering (design, planning, environmental studies). The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $242 million grant to aide with funding of the replacement bridge in 2024. The total estimated project cost is $1.1 billion.