Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement

According to the NCDOT, the current bridge is functionally obsolete. This means that it does not have the capacity to serve the projected increase in vehicles (commuters, visitors and port traffic) over the next several years.

The current estimate is between $1.1-$1.3 billion.

NCDOT has secured around one third of the $1.1 to 1.3 billion needed. It has obtained a federal grant in the amount of $242 million and a commitment of $85 million from the NC Transportation Fund. WMPO has said that all funding options are on the table to fund the $900 million shortfall, including tolls, a local sales tax increase or a regional transportation bond. The tax and bond options would be paid by Pender, Brunswick and New Hanover County residents and would require voter approval. The toll option would not be subject to voter approval.

The current proposal by Delivering Bridges LLC, an affiliate of United Bridge Partners, is projecting a $2.75 per crossing toll, which will be higher for multi-axel vehicles.

Both the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) and the state legislature must approve the use of tolls to finance the new CFM Bridge. Most of the WMPO members are elected officials and include a commissioner from each of the three counties, two Wilmington City Council members, and the mayors of Wrightsville Beach, Kure Beach, Carolina Beach, Navassa, Belville, and Leland.

Alternative A: 65’ vertical clearance lift bridge (135’ when lifted)
Alternative B: 135’ vertical clearance fixed bridge

The Army Corps of Engineers (ACE) has determined that it will only issue a permit for a bridge with a 135’ vertical clearance based upon studies leading to the 1996 Wilmington Harbor Act. These studies are part of a federal law that authorized the deepening and widening of the Wilmington Harbor. ACE has said it cannot issue a permit for a lower clearance without a change in this law. Federal and State elected officials have not supported a change in the law to permit a lower clearance.

Army Corp has not dredged to the authorized depth north of the bridge since 2006 and has no plans or budget to do so in the future. There are too few commercial vessels using this part of the waterway to justify the cost of dredging. Further, there is no turning basin north of the bridge to accommodate commercial vessels. As a result, it appears there will be no large vessel traffic north of the bridge that requires a 135 foot vertical clearance, now or in the future. Yet, Army Corps’ claims their hands are tied by 30 year old navigation studies and outdated legislation.

Yes. The NCDOT’s Navigation Impact Report, a 2024 study of vessels passing under the bridge, determined there are no vessels requiring more than 100’ vertical clearance using the waterway. In fact, there are no commercial vessels requiring more than 65 ‘ vertical clearance using the waterway.

The existing bridge lands at and is primarily accessed from S Third, a four lane State Highway (NC 17 Business). The proposed lift bridge (Alt A) can be built within the right of way of the existing bridge. It will land and be accessed at South Third, the same as the existing bridge. As a result, the lift bridge maintains current traffic patterns. By contrast, the proposed 135’ vertical clearance option (Alt B) will land between S Fourth Street and S Fifth Avenue, much deeper into the historic district, and will direct bridge traffic onto S Fifth, a two lane residential street lined with historic National Register properties. South Fifth cannot carry the volume of bridge traffic currently carried by S Third. In addition, the fixed 135 ‘ clearance alternative will eliminate the intersection of South Third and Dawson/Wooster and thus sever the Highway 17 Business/Highway 76 artery into and out of downtown.
This artery is also a hurricane evacuation route. As a result, the fixed 135’ clearance option will permanently change traffic patterns in ways that will cause ongoing delays and disruptions.

The lift bridge can be built within the right of way of the existing bridge and will maintain existing traffic patterns. It will preserve the Historic District, maintain the important S Third/Dawson Wooster intersection and evacuation routes, minimize harm to businesses and neighborhoods along the Dawson Wooster corridor, and preserve 11 acres of Brunswick County wetlands. By contrast, the fixed bridge with the 135 foot clearance will land at S Fifth, deep into the Historic District. It will cause permanent traffic delays and disruptions because it will direct bridge traffic onto historic two lane residential streets and eliminate the intersection of S Third and Dawson/Wooster, two important regional transportation arteries.
This artery is also a hurricane evacuation route. As a result, the fixed 135’ clearance option will permanently change traffic patterns in ways that will cause ongoing delays and disruptions.

1. Sign the petition and share it with your contacts: https://c.org/6LVxzHppTM.
2. Write to your elected officials and express your concerns, your opposition to tolls and the fixed 135’ clearance bridge, and your support for the lift bridge.
3. Stay informed about developments by following HWF’s social media and website.
4. Be ready to respond to NCDOT’s public input survey, expected in late August 2026, and say YES to the fixed bridge (Alt A), NO to tolls, and NO to the fixed 135’ vertical clearance bridge (Alt B).