NCDOT provides tentative timeline for Cape Fear Memorial Bridge closure

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The NC Department of Transportation has provided an tentative timeline for repairs on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

During a meeting with the media on Wednesday, the NCDOT said temporary lane closures will begin on January 11. This work will happen between the hours of 7pm and 5am. During this time, crews will build a barrier wall to protect workers from traffic.

“We started getting these fractures and what I call pops on the riding deck on a regular basis and this is clearly, if you go out first thing in the morning, this is something that you would come across,” said NCDOT Engineer Chad Kimes when talking about why the repairs needed to happen.

Starting January 28, lanes heading into Wilmington from Brunswick County will close. Work will then begin to install a new deck and stringers, which are parallel beams that support the deck.

The NCDOT hopes the inbound lane work will wrap up by March 31.

The bridge will then reopen during the NC Azalea Festival

On April 9, lanes heading into Brunswick County will close.

The goal is to have all work completed by May 23.

Some have questioned why can’t one lane remain open during repairs? Kimes said it’s just not possible.

“The beams weren’t designed based on lane width. They were designed on the edge of the bridge, to the center of the bridge, to the other side of the bridge. So, you have to do from the edge of the bridge, to the middle of the bridge where the existing barrier is.”

Some have also asked, why cant the NCDOT work on this throughout the night? Kimes responded to that as well during the press conference

“I want to go back to night work about being dangerous. We know that stringers is a very dangerous job to do when you have very limited light. I’m still going to say we’re continuing operations at night even though you may not see people over there working,”