Wilmington has been awarded a $242 million grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, officials announced Friday. The total cost of the replacement is projected to be approximately $485 million, according to a news release from Governor Roy Cooper’s office. The new bridge is proposed to be a high-rise, fixed-span structure.
Important: The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge serves as a vital connector between Brunswick and New Hanover counties, carrying over 70,000 vehicles daily. This number is expected to increase to nearly 100,000 by 2050. The existing bridge, constructed in 1969, underwent a significant rehabilitation project earlier this year to replace supports under its riding deck.
No Risk No Reward: The grant’s approval was not guaranteed. In January, the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) approved exploring a tolled replacement option, which improved the project’s ranking in the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s prioritization. The vote to add the toll option was contentious, with five board members opposing it and intense discussions preceding the decision with the public. Many in the public believed adding the toll option would ensure that a toll would be added to the bridge. However, NCDOT Board Member Landon Zimmer, repeated throughout the meeting that it was “not a vote about a toll,” arguing it was the only way to access federal funding support by signaling to Washington, D.C. that they were serious about the project.
- NOTE: The eight members who voted in favor have demonstrated that they were right to risk the possibility of a toll to secure the funding.
What They’re Saying: North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, a key advocate for the grant, emphasized the significance of the funding for the bridge’s replacement. “The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge will finally be replaced, which is welcome news for the residents of Wilmington,” Senator Tillis stated in a release on Friday. “This was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that I’m proud to have helped author and pass into law. It’s already provided more than $10 billion to rebuild North Carolina’s infrastructure, and the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement is the latest project that will benefit our great state.”
Looking Ahead: The replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge marks a critical investment in Wilmington’s infrastructure, promising to enhance transportation efficiency and safety for decades to come. The successful acquisition of the $242 million grant underscores the importance of strategic planning and collaboration among local, state, and federal entities in addressing essential infrastructure needs.
