Drivers react as Cape Fear Memorial Bridge re-opens

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The westbound lanes on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge officially re-opened Thursday morning at 4 a.m. The lanes were originally expected to open Wednesday night, but work was delayed.

Drivers are saying they are excited for the end of the closures.

Besides the week of the Azalea Festival, at least one direction of the bridge had been closed for repair work since January.

Wilmington resident Chris Bell said it’s nice not having to deal with long commutes to work anymore.

“I think its gonna be great for downtown,” Bell said. “I leave work from here at my office at Approve and I head back up the road and with the traffic reversed, took my commute from about 10 minutes to about 30 some days. So I know everybody else is excited for that lack of traffic too.”

The repair work involved replacing the metal grates and other pieces of the movable section of the bridge.

Pastor James Brown lives in Columbus County but works in Wilmington.

He said dealing with the congestion and long commutes was worth it.

“I like the fact that they took time to rebuild the bridge and to give it more longevity,” Brown said. “The inconvenience was worth it, that’s my take on it, but I am glad that its over, its done.”

Wilmington resident Anthony Gabrielle agrees, while also hoping work doesn’t have to be done on Wilmington’s other bridge any time soon.

“Hoping that the construction and the improvements they made on the bridge are able to last another 50 years and hopefully they don’t do anything to Isabella Holmes Bridge,” Gabrielle said.