North Carolina Officials Seek Federal Review of Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Navigation Requirements
Local elected officials in Wilmington, New Hanover County, and Leland, North Carolina, are collectively urging federal assistance to reassess the navigation requirements for the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. The Wilmington City Council and New Hanover County Commissioners have sent letters to Senators Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, and Congressman David Rouzer, requesting an updated assessment of the current and future navigational needs of the Cape Fear and Northeast Cape Fear rivers. This push comes after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Coast Guard determined in May 2025 that a replacement bridge would require at least 135 feet of vertical clearance, leading the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) to remove a 100-foot alternative from consideration. Local officials argue that this 135-foot requirement is based on a 30-year-old federal analysis that may no longer reflect the actual river traffic or economic activity in the region. They highlight that the current vessel...
