Wrightsville Beach bridge project moves forward as officials address traffic concerns

4 hours ago

Kinsey Rothenberger,

Residents and business owners attend a meeting to hear an update with NCDOT and the Wrightsville Beach Bridge Replacement Committee on Wrightsville Beach's bridge replacement project and the construction timeline. (Photo: WWAY/Kinsey Rothenberger)

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY) — Wrightsville Beach residents and business owners got an update Monday on the island’s long-awaited bridge replacement project, as the North Carolina Department of Transportation and the Bridge Replacement Committee outlined the construction timeline and addressed concerns about traffic, access and business operations during the years-long project.

“The disruption is going to be tough,” said Kyle Hanlin, executive director of the Wrightsville Beach Chamber of Commerce.

That was one of the biggest takeaways from Monday’s meeting, where residents gathered to learn more about the project that will replace three aging bridges connecting Wrightsville Beach to the mainland.

Hanlin says many businesses are focused on how construction could affect deliveries and day-to-day operations.

A major concern, he said, is making sure delivery trucks can continue reaching the island while minimizing impacts on residents.

“That they’re happening at sensible times that still protect the residents’ kind of calm that they expect here on the island,” said Hanlin.

Hanlin said replacing the aging bridges is necessary and believes DOT is taking the right approach by replacing the structures before they become unsafe.

“You know, the DOT being proactive to take these bridges down while they’re still functional and replace them with bridges that will hopefully last us another 50 to 75 years certainly is the right plan,” said Hanlin.

According to transportation officials, overhead utility work on the western Salisbury Street Bridge over Lee’s Cut is expected to begin within the next six to eight weeks. Once that work is complete, crews will move to the eastern Salisbury Street Bridge, with that phase scheduled to finish by spring 2027.

The project will then shift to the Causeway Drive bridge, where utility relocations are expected to begin in spring 2027.

“There will be a period of time where Salisbury will be closed completely, but Causeway will be completely open,” said Bridge Replacement Committee Chair Neal Andrew.

Andrew said traffic will continue moving throughout construction.

“There will always be at least two lanes eastbound onto the Wrightsville Beach island and two lanes westbound off of the island open at all times,” said Andrew.

Hanlin acknowledged construction will create challenges over the next several years but said the improvements will ultimately benefit the community.

“I think the juice is worth the squeeze. The disruption is going to be tough, but at the same time, again with communication and people realizing that Wrightsville Beach is going to have an even enhanced traffic problem with these bridges down, getting that word out there the right way I think is going to help mitigate these next 4 to 6 years being any harder than they’re already needing to be,” said Hanlin.

Andrew said residents can stay informed on the project’s progress through the Town of Wrightsville Beach website and by signing up for updates from the North Carolina Department of Transportation.