Popular Wrightsville Beach walking loop to undergo changes amid bridge replacement plans

WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH, NC (WWAY-TV) — Major plans are underway for three bridge replacement projects in Wrightsville beach which include significant updates on the town’s walking loop.

“I use this bridge almost every day of my life,” said Campbell Carter.

Carter, a long-time Wrightsville Beach resident, is a frequent beach goer who is often seen on the West Salisbury Street Bridges.

“I’m on the water seven day a week so I’m using it all the time,” said Carter.

Carter is among many other residents and visitors who will need to adjust their route to the beach once construction is underway for a major bridge replacement project. The North Carolina Department of Transportation will replace the US 76 Causeway Drive Bridge crossing Banks Channel and two bridges on US 74 on West Salisbury Street crossing Lees Cut and Banks Channel.

“The committee has helped the town plan for its own traffic studies and hiring a traffic consultant and hiring an emergency response consultant and getting them to start reviewing incident reports,” said Neal Andrew, the town’s bridge replacement committee chair.

During packed meeting on Monday, Andrew provided the project’s status which is still in the design phase.

Andrew said the town is currently coordinating with local partners to mitigate traffic concerns during peak travel times such as during the summer, special events, evacuations and emergencies.

“Talking to the coast guard which is in charge of the draw bridge and help coordinate the opening and closing of the draw bridge during the project,” said Andrew.

An unexpected development during the meeting, the town is looking to improve its 2.45 mile walking loop and has hired a contractor to look at the design, lighting and additional pedestrian safety.

“Walking the loop here at the beach is certainly a big part daily life for residents and visitors and the town is actively figuring out a way to maintain some sort of loop during the bridge closures,” said Andrew.

The town will be creating “mini loops” or other areas for pedestrians to use once construction is underway.

As for next steps, Andrew said NCDOT and its selected contractor aims to finalize its design plans and get a schedule developed for a sequence of construction events.

“And that’s really the big picture for everybody is once they can get those things finalized then we’ll have a lot more definitive information to share with everybody,” said Andrew.

The town’s next bridge replacement committee meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 15 at 10 a.m.

The project is expected to begin construction in Spring of 2028.