Coast Guard recommends 135-foot clearance for Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A new bridge proposed to span the Cape Fear River in Wilmington should include a vertical clearance of at least 135 feet to meet current and future navigation needs, the US Coast Guard said in a preliminary review.
The recommendation was issued in a letter dated May 28 to the North Carolina Department of Transportation, following the agency’s review of documentation from the US Army Corps of Engineers and a 2024 Navigation Impact Report.
The Coast Guard said a bridge carrying US 17/76/421 on a new alignment—approximately 150 feet south of the existing drawbridge—must provide a minimum of 135 feet of vertical clearance and at least 400 feet of horizontal clearance through its main navigation span. If a drawbridge is selected, it should maintain at least 65 feet of clearance when closed.
The Army Corps of Engineers issued a similar recommendation last month.
The current drawbridge provides 135 feet of vertical clearance in the open position, 65 feet when closed, and 350 feet of horizontal space for vessels.
The 135-foot fixed bridge proposal has raised concerns among neighbors, who fear their homes could be in the path of construction.
The estimated cost for a new bridge recently jumped from $400 million to around $1 billion.
The Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) voted late last month to support the NCDOT exploring all funding options, including the possibility of a toll.
The Coast Guard’s determination is not final or binding and will expire in three years if a complete permit application is not submitted. Officials say the recommendation is intended to help guide NCDOT as it prepares its formal bridge permit application.
