NCDOT revises Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement plan

CASTLE HAYNE, NC (WWAY) — The North Carolina Department of Transportation is revising one of its proposed designs for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement project in an effort to reduce impacts to downtown Wilmington.

NCDOT has updated Alternative B, which still calls for a fixed-span bridge with 135 feet of vertical clearance over the Cape Fear River.

However, the revised design changes how the bridge would connect to downtown. Instead of the original plan to connect at Fifth Avenue, the updated proposal features a large loop that would provide access to Third Street.

NCDOT says the change would eliminate a significant amount of the project’s impacts to downtown.

The department is now accepting additional public comments on both Alternative A and the revised Alternative B through Dec. 4.

Residents can review the updated designs and submit comments through the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement project website.