Utility relocation work to begin for Wrightsville Beach bridge replacement project

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Utility relocation work tied to the Wrightsville Beach bridge replacement project is expected to begin this summer in New Hanover County, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Contract crews working for North Carolina Department of Transportation will begin utility relocation work around the smaller bridge on West Salisbury Street (U.S. 74) over Lees Cut. Drivers can expect intermittent lane closures during the work.

NCDOT said surveying operations and right-of-way staking could begin as early as this week.

Construction on the smaller bridge over Lees Cut is expected to begin by the end of 2026. Officials said the bridge will remain open to traffic until after Labor Day before replacement work begins.

The project includes replacing three bridges that provide direct access to and from Wrightsville Beach. Two bridges along West Salisbury Street over Lees Cut and Banks Channel, along with one bridge on Causeway Drive (U.S. 76) over Banks Channel, will be replaced with new structures.

According to NCDOT, the project is designed to replace aging bridges, improve connectivity, and create safer and more efficient crossings for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists.

For more information about the project, visit the NCDOT project webpage.