While the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement is certainly the noisiest infrastructure project in the area, it is far from the only bridge proposed in New Hanover County.
From replacing aging structures
to establishing new routes, there are eight bridges in the works. Some will begin construction in the coming months. Others, however, are still awaiting funding with some projects estimated to cost over $1 billion.
Several of the projects have been submitted for funding consideration under the N.C. Department of Transportation’s State Transportation Improvement Program. The agency is reviewing submittals for the next round of prioritization, with selection to take place in 2027.
Here are the bridge projects proposed in New Hanover.
Wrightsville Beach bridges
NCDOT will replace three Wrightsville Beach bridges, with construction expected to begin by the end of this year.
The project will replace the Causeway Drive bridge crossing Banks Channel, and two W Salisbury Street bridges crossing Lees Cut and Banks Channel.
The new bridges over W Salisbury will have one lane in each direction with dedicated bike lanes on both sides. The new Causeway Drive bridge will have two lanes in each direction with dedicated bike lanes on both sides. A 12-foot multi-use path will be separated from vehicle and bicycle traffic by a concrete wall on all bridges.
The total cost of the project is $105 million. NCDOT is targeting a completion date in spring 2030.
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement
In September, residents packed public hearings for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement project in both Wilmington and Leland. The structure, originally built in 1969, is considered “functionally obsolete” due to its inability to meet current and future traffic demands. The bridge currently serves roughly 70,000 vehicles per day.
Major points of contention in the project include a potential toll and the design of the new bridge. Residents and governing bodies alike have expressed concerns over the impact of both proposed designs, but no final decision has been made for the billion-dollar project.
Cape Fear Crossing
Put on hold in 2019, Cape Fear Crossing would establish a 9.5-mile road and bridge connecting Interstate 140 and U.S. 421 on opposite sides of the river if NCDOT selects it for prioritization. The bridge would cost over $1 billion and is also listed as a toll project on the agency’s website.
A design alternative was never selected, but the bridge could have led to either Shipyard or Independence boulevards.
Heide Trask Memorial Bridge
While Wrightsville Beach’s drawbridge is not part of the current replacement project, the Heide Trask Memorial Bridge is nearing the end of its lifespan after 68 years in operation.
Back in 2019, NCDOT forecasted the bridge’s remaining lifespan at 23 years. When the replacement project was proposed, average annual maintenance costs were $234,102.51. Major rehabilitation, like a $9 million project in 2014, are needed every 10 to 15 years to keep the bridge viable.
The projected replacement cost was between $69.6 and $122.5 million in 2019, but the cost is likely to have climbed in the years since.
UNCW pedestrian bridge
A pedestrian bridge has been proposed for the University of North Carolina Wilmington campus where South College Road meets Randall Parkway/Randall Drive, a busy intersection frequented by students on foot.
The total anticipated cost is about $13.7 million. UNCW has submitted the project for consideration through NCDOT’s Prioritization 8.0 program. To be eligible for the state funding, the university must secure a 20% local match, which equates to roughly $2.74 million.
Snow's Cut
Built in 1962, Snow’s Cut Bridge is the seventh oldest bridge in New Hanover County. When NCDOT first proposed a replacement in 2024, the agency estimated that the structure had a remaining lifespan of roughly 40 years.
The proposed replacement would include a median, shoulders and a 12-foot-wide multi-use path. The cost is estimated at $113.5 million.
Daniel Sheehan covers New Hanover County for the StarNews. Reach him at dsheehan@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: 8 bridges proposed in New Hanover County
