Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement Project
Public Comments accepted through October 15th
The current Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is outdated and requiring frequent expensive maintenance. The formal review period has begun because the NCDOT, in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), has approved the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement.
The Environmental Assessment (EA) details the anticipated impacts to natural, human, environmental, physical and biological resources for the two proposed alternatives.
However, the EA is extremely limited in scope and area affected, limited to within one block of the new footprint while the impact will be far reaching, including to people, their homes, traffic patterns and nearby wetlands. There will be significant noise pollution from large trucks breaking with a steep descent that will harm people and animals in the river and wetlands.
Replacement Bridge Alternatives:
Alternative A has a movable span with a proposed 65-foot to 135-foot vertical clearance over the river.
Alternative B is a fixed-span bridge with a 135-foot vertical clearance and trumpet interchange improvements (allows for interchange of secondary two-way streets to a multi-lane roadway with minimal traffic congestion), which will allow ships to pass underneath without any interruption to vehicular traffic on the bridge.
Detailed Public Comments from Brayton Willis, Retired U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Senior Project Manager -Submitted in his personal capacity & shared with Sierra Club for public use - to learn & form personal comments
Bridge Height
Currently, Wilmington Harbor Navigation Project, including north of the bridge is rated for deep-draft large ships, requiring the 135-foot vertical clearance for the bridge. However, this designation was done in 1996. The area north of the bridge has changed drastically in the last 30 years. There are no longer commercial businesses accepting large ships.
Cape Fear Sierra Club along with Alliance for Cape Fear Trees, Cape Fear River Watch, North Carolina Coastal Federation, Eagles Island Nature Park, Save Sledge Forest, Coastal Plain Conservation Group, and the League of Women Voters of the Lower Cape Fear has signed on to a letter to our federal representatives to request a Section 216 review of the Wilmington Harbor Navigation Project. Federal law allows this process in the case of significant changes. We are requesting this project to be reevaluated and redesigned to reflect our community as it is now, not 30 years ago.
Sign On
Maintaining the navigation project as is, forces the high bridge clearance as well as risks further dredging and industrial development. We have also argued against the further deepening of the Wilmington Harbor for port traffic.
Opportunities for Public Input:
Wilmington City Council: Tuesday September 1st 6:30p at Skyline Center
City Council will discuss a resolution requesting the DOT & Federal Highways program to look for a 3rd design, do a deeper study on the broader impacts to the community and the environment.
NC DOT: Details about the two proposed alternatives and hearings will provide the public an opportunity to learn about the proposed alternatives, ask NCDOT representatives questions, and make formal verbal and/or written comments which will be considered in the selection of the preferred alternative.
Open house and public hearings are scheduled as follows:
Wilmington: Monday, Sept. 14
Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Formal hearing begins at 6:00 p.m.
Cape Fear Community College (Daniels Hall)
502 N. Front Street
Leland: Tuesday, Sept. 15
Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Formal hearing begins at 6:00 p.m.
Leland Cultural Arts Center
1212 Magnolia Village Way
The public may attend at any time during the above hours, but the presentation, which will also be streamed live, will begin promptly at 6 p.m. Project maps and other information can be found on the project website.
Project maps and other information can be found on the project website. Comments may also be submitted by October 15, 2026 by phone at 984-205-6615, enter project code 10626, by email to CapeFearMemorialBridge@publicinput.com, at DOT’s public input portal, or by mail to: Mason Herndon, Project Manager, NCDOT Highway Division 3, 5501 Barbados Boulevard, Castle Hayne, NC 28429.
News Regarding Bridge Replacement Public Action:
As NCDOT weighs Cape Fear bridge designs, locals ask: Is there another way? in Port City Daily.
New Hanover County Commission sent letter to Senators Tillis & Budd & Representative Rouzer requesting a section 216 review to assess the current and future navigation needs of the river north of the bridge. in Wilmington Biz Journal