The town of Wrightsville Beach will receive $1.5 million from the New Hanover Community Endowment for improvements to its loop trail while spending a similar amount on aesthetic additions on its forthcoming bridges.
Work on Wrightsville Beach’s John T. Nesbitt Loop will be bolstered by a grant from The Endowment, allowing the town to “enhance accessibility, functionality, and amenities and expand recreational opportunities” along the popular path. At a Board of Aldermen meeting on Oct. 14, Town Manager Haynes Brigman said that the grant would fund the full design of the project.
Brigman said that the grant will also fund a connection between Causeway Drive and W Salisbury Street. The path will establish a “mini-loop” through the park to allow
pedestrian access while the bridge replacement project is underway.
While the town does not yet have an official grant agreement with The Endowment, Brigman said that the town’s budget amendment would speed up the process as the bridge replacement project nears.
The Endowment announced the investment alongside a collection of grants totaling $15.8 million in September. The announcement also included a $3.5 million grant for Carolina Beach’s planned park and event stage near the town’s Boardwalk district. Both of the beach town projects were identified in early findings from The Endowment’s Recreational Opportunities Assessment, which is expected to be completed this fall.
After passing the budget amendment, town officials discussed the bridge replacement “betterments” that would cost the town $1,706,678.41. The features, which go “above and beyond” the standards set by the N.C. Department of Transportation, will serve functional and aesthetic purposes. Town leaders have not made final decisions on which features will be funded, but authorized funding to anodize two metal rails for $153,112.50.
The most expensive add-on is a barrier between travel lanes and the pedestrian walkway, costing just over $448,000. The improvements will include rail treatments, town logo medallions and painting or staining parts of the bridge. The town is also working with Duke Energy to enhance the bridges with decorative lighting. Brigman said that the town would be financially responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of the aesthetic improvements, except for the lights.
Phase one, which is expected to begin in November, will replace the bridge over Lee’s Cut on W Salisbury Street. The bridge is the shortest of the three and will not have any aesthetic improvements.
Phase two will begin work on the longer W Salisbury Street Bridge over Banks Channel. Work will also begin on the new Causeway Bridge, just north of the existing bridge. The existing bridge will remain open at this time. W Salisbury Street will be closed to thru traffic from Lookout Harbor to the entrance of Pelican Drive during this phase.
Phase three will close the existing Causeway Bridge. Traffic will shift onto the newly constructed bridge, while crews begin demolition on the existing bridge.
Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Bridge 'betterments' and loop improvements coming to Wrightsville Beach
