Downtown Wilmington Riverfront Park Project delayed

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Riverfront Park Project in downtown Wilmington has been delayed in large part to mother nature.

What was supposed to be finished in November, has now been pushed back to at least January. After Tropical Storm Hermine last week, a portion of the riverfront edge collapsed when the Coast Guard’s bulkhead system underneath failed.

This is the second time in two years part of the bulkhead in the area has failed. Right now the coast guard is working on a short-term solution while they figure out how to pay for long-term repairs. In the meantime the city hopes delays in the work won’t be too long.

“It’s taken longer than anticipated, because they’re working at low tide, but we’re excited to wrap that one up in January, and then, you know, hopefully the other phases of the project again coordinated between the Coast Guard and the public utility authority, we’ll be able to move forward soon thereafter,” city spokesman Dylan Lee said.

The city says once the Coast Guard receives the funding they need, they will be able to finish the improvements underground and be one step closer to completing the Riverfront Park Project.

Although they hope to have this phase complete by January, there is still no word on when exactly the whole project will be finished.