Leland Town Council approves letter raising concerns over Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement

LELAND, NC (WWAY) — Leland Town Council approved a letter Thursday calling for a renewed environmental assessment and evaluation of alternatives for replacing the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

Council members raised concerns about the cost of the two replacement options currently under consideration by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

Option A calls for a 65-foot-tall lift bridge capable of reaching a clearance of 135 feet, similar to the existing bridge. Option B calls for a fixed-span bridge with a clearance of 135 feet.

Mayor Pro Tem Bob Campbell pointed to another alternative previously considered that he said would cost less.

“I’d be comfortable with 5 dollars but there’s another option. There was an A, B and a C. That was going to be a lot less expensive, somewhere in the neighborhood of 750, 785 million dollars, which was a little more comfortable than 1.3 billion.”

Leland resident David Frankel also questioned the cost of Option B, citing a lack of commercial vessels traveling north of the bridge.

“No commercial vessels using that bridge anymore. So basically we’ll be building a 1.3 billion bridge to nowhere, so why spend that kind of money.”

Campbell said the council is also concerned about the potential impact of Option B because of its larger footprint.

Leland is the second local municipality to approve a letter to state representatives about the bridge replacement. Wilmington City Council approved a letter Tuesday.

Both councils have also voiced opposition to tolling a new bridge.

Campbell said Leland’s letter brings the town’s position in line with concerns raised by residents.

Council also approved a separate letter calling for a federal review of the Wilmington Harbor Navigation Project, which would deepen the channel to 47 feet to accommodate larger vessels.