Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement: Protect Our Wetlands

Historic Wilmington Foundation

NCDOT and the Wilmington Metropolitan Planning Organization have received an unsolicited proposal from Delivering Bridges, LLC to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge with a 135-foot fixed bridge — and the environmental consequences would be severe and irreversible. Alternative B, the fixed bridge, would destroy a minimum of 11 acres of critical wetlands that provide hurricane resilience and wildlife habitat. Its steep 5% grade would funnel heavy port-bound truck traffic over the river, creating extreme high-volume diesel engine and Jake brake noise pollution that would permanently disrupt the fragile wetland ecosystem that wildlife depend on for mating, hunting, and survival. Alternative A — a lift bridge maintaining the current right-of-way — would preserve these irreplaceable wetlands. This summer, NCDOT will provide the last phase of public input prior to making its final decision on bridge design. We urge all to participate in the public input, advocate for design alternative A and sign the petition. Further, we call on NCDOT to identify a funding solution that does not burden our community with tolls.