NCDOT responds to not being present at Cape Fear Memorial Bridge maintenance presentation

NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The New Hanover County Board of Commissioners were set to hear a presentation at its meeting on Monday, but a key representative was not present.

Steven Still, the county’s emergency management director, came before the board to share an update on the maintenance on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. At the podium, Still apologized that a representative from the North Carolina Department of Transportation was not present.

A number of commissioners, including Jonathan Barfield Jr., Dane Scalise, and Rob Zapple expressed their frustrations over communication between the DOT and the county.

In response to commissioners being upset, the NCDOT released the following statement:

As NCDOT continues to prepare for the upcoming preservation project, additional information such as a detailed timeline is still being worked out with the contractor. NCDOT staff communicated this to New Hanover County staff last week and made them aware we do not have an update at this time. We will share more information once we have more confidence in the construction timeline.

Per the contract, the work could begin in early January pending the contractor and supply availability. This schedule is intended to minimize impacts to the region during the busy summer tourism and hurricane seasons. At least one direction of the bridge will remain open throughout the project and both directions will be open during the North Carolina Azalea Festival April 1-7.

Our main priority is safety. We understand the preservation project is an inconvenience, but it is critical to keep the bridge in safe condition for the next several years. The bridge condition would be in question if this project took place after the next hurricane season.

NCDOT plans to hold a press conference once we know more on the schedule. We will continue to ensure communities and our local partners stay informed throughout the entire project.

Both lanes into Wilmington from Brunswick County will close sometime in January through April. After that, work will then switch to the opposite side of the bridge with completion aimed for June.