Wilmington City Council voices concerns over Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement options
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Wilmington City Council members are raising concerns about two proposed options for replacing the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge following the completion of a federal environmental assessment.
During Tuesday’s meeting, council members reviewed and approved comments that will be submitted to the North Carolina Department of Transportation regarding the assessment.
The comments address potential impacts on traffic, downtown Wilmington, local businesses, residential streets, and historic structures.
Council members also discussed the two alternatives outlined in the assessment.
Alternative A would include a movable bridge span with between 65 and 135 feet of vertical clearance.
Alternative B would be a fixed-span bridge with 135 feet of vertical clearance.
Council member David Joyner believes Alternative A would have fewer impacts on downtown Wilmington.
“While I don’t love either option, I think that option A is a better option for downtown Wilmington. It’s a better option for our physical and natural environment,” Joyner said.
According to the environmental assessment, Alternative B would affect substantially more acres of 100-year floodplain and wetlands, as well as more property parcels.
Councilmember Cassidy Santaguida, who also serves on the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, raised concerns about where Alternative B would connect to the city.
Under that option, the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge would land near 5th Avenue, which Santaguida said could create significant traffic impacts.
“Which has the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge landing at 5th Avenue and the capacity that we have on that city road to manage the traffic that’s expected when that bridge comes through,” Santaguida said. “Our economy, historic structures, residential streets, local businesses. I think that’s gonna be an impact that we feel all over downtown.”
Joyner said there are still questions about how the replacement bridge would be funded.
“That money, that $700 million something delta on what is allocated for the bridge currently and what it’s going to cost in the long run is going to be on the backs of Southeastern North Carolinians and Wilmington specifically, Wilmingtonians specifically. So if that’s where we’re headed, I think folks deserve a referendum where they can go to the ballot box and say if that’s going to be paid through a local option sales tax or are people willing to say no to that, understanding it may mean a toll.”
The council also moved its Sept. 15 meeting to Sept. 22 so members can attend NCDOT’s public hearing on the bridge replacement at the Leland Cultural Arts Center.
The public comment period for the environmental assessment ends Oct. 15. After that date, NCDOT will no longer accept comments on the proposed replacement bridge.
