*This is a North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) project. Brunswick County is not responsible for the accuracy of this information. For the most up-to-date information, visit the NCDOT website or contact NCDOT directly.
Posted May 7, 2024 | Read Original Release on NCDOT Website
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The N.C. Department of Transportation will reopen lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge this week, completing the preservation project weeks in advance.
“I am proud to be part of the NCDOT and this community,” Division 3 Engineer Chad Kimes said. “The department has worked closely with its partners, which has proven to be key to getting critical messages out, and of course, finishing this project early.”
The westbound lanes of the bridge are scheduled to reopen to traffic on May 8 at 7 p.m. Like the reopening of the eastbound lanes, the process will take several hours to complete as crews will need to change signage and pavement markings and remove barrels.
“I want to thank the public for their patience,” Kimes added. “We know changing your schedules and experiencing additional congestion over the last few months hasn’t been easy. Again, working together has made this project a success all around.”
For several months, an NCDOT contractor has done extensive work to create a smoother, safer ride, while also extending the life of the bridge connecting Brunswick and New Hanover counties. In January, the eastbound lanes closed to replace the grid deck and stringers, the support beams. The contractor finished the work ahead of the Azalea Festival. After the festival, the contractor closed the westbound lanes, completing the same work on that side.
Because the NCDOT contractor finished prior to May 23, they will earn an additional $500,000.
For additional information about the preservation project, visit ncdot.gov/CFMBrehab.
Wilmington Traffic Patterns to Return to Original Movements
The evening of May 8, the barricades on 3rd Street will be removed and traffic will be restored at its normal pattern at U.S. 421 onto U.S. 74.
NCDOT staff will restripe 3rd Street beginning at 7 p.m. May 9.
The traffic pattern at U.S. 117 North (North College Road) onto U.S. 74 (Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway) will return to its original pattern during the nights of May 15 and 16, weather permitting.
Platform Removal and Counterweights
While all lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge will be open to traffic daily, additional work will need to be done, including removal of the platform underneath the bridge.
To remove the platform, crews will need to close the outside lane in each direction. Beginning May 9, the lane closures will take place nightly between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. until the platform is removed.
After the platform removal is complete, the contractor will need to lift the bridge on several occasions to modify the counterweights that were added to the bridge as the deck and stringers were removed. The work will be done between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m. on dates that will be announced later.
Drivers are encouraged to use DriveNC.gov for the most up-to-date travel information and avoid the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge during these times. If unavoidable, drivers should be alert to the lane closures and crews working on the bridge.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
***NCDOT***
MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Haviland, Communications Officer for NCDOT Divisions 2 and 3
Email Lauren Haviland
Phone: 919.707.2677
From NCDOT: Westbound Lanes of Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Temporarily Closing
Posted April 3, 2024 | Read Original Release on NCDOT Website
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The westbound lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge are scheduled to temporarily close next week to complete the preservation project.
Weather permitting, the contractor will close both lanes of the bridge from Wilmington toward Leland, at 7 p.m. April 8. It’s important to note this process will take several hours to ensure drivers and crews are safe. Overnight, crews will need to close off all entrances to the westbound lanes, change pavement markings and add signage.
While the lanes are closed, contract crews will replace the grid deck and the beams that support it, known as stringers.
Once the westbound lanes are closed, drivers will be encouraged to take the Isabel Holmes Bridge, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and College Road or Interstate 140. The N.C. Department of Transportation will continue to use message boards to alert drivers to the optimal route. Maps of the detour and links to DriveNC can be found on the project webpage.
To help with extra traffic in other areas of New Hanover and Brunswick counties, additional measures are being taken to accommodate, including:
- On April 4 and 5, NCDOT will install triple left turn lanes at U.S. 117 (North College Road) North onto U.S. 74 (Martin Luther King Jr. Parkway.
- On April 8, the left turn lane from U.S. 421 South onto U.S. 74 (Isabel Holmes Bridge) will be closed to traffic. All traffic will be required to go straight (south) towards the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
- NCDOT and the City of Wilmington are reviewing signal timing at several intersections, including 3rd Street and U.S. 74 (Isabel Holmes Bridge).
Also, on the night of April 8, NCDOT will place barricades on 3rd Street median crossovers at the intersections with Queen, Church, Nun and Orange streets. These barricades will prohibit left turns for drivers on 3rd Street and will redirect the side-street traffic into turning right onto 3rd Street. Drivers needing to make a left turn at one of these streets will need to go to the next traffic signal on 3rd Street.
This traffic change is anticipated to help minimize the congestion on 3rd Street. The intersections will remain in this pattern until the preservation project is complete.
The westbound lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge are expected to reopen to traffic prior to Memorial Day weekend.
The department encourages the media and public to continue to utilize ncdot.gov/CFMBrehab for the latest updates and detour information.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
***NCDOT***
MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Haviland, Communications Officer for NCDOT Divisions 2 and 3
Email Lauren Haviland
Phone: 919.707.2677
From NCDOT: Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Lanes to Open Ahead of Schedule
Posted March 25, 2024 | Read Original Release on NCDOT Website
WILMINGTON, N.C. – All lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge are scheduled to be open to traffic ahead of schedule, before a popular festival begins in Wilmington.
The eastbound lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge are scheduled to open March 26. While work to reopen the lanes is anticipated to start at 7 p.m., it is important to note this process will take several hours to ensure drivers and crews are safe. Crews will need to remove barrels and change pavement markings and signage.
On the same night, the barricades on 3rd Street will be removed, allowing drivers to turn left.
"This has been a team effort," Division 3 Engineer Chad Kimes said. "I first want to thank the public for their patience. While we are not finished, I also want to congratulate and celebrate what has been accomplished by our staff, our contractors and partners."
The N.C. Department of Transportation contractor remained on schedule after closing the eastbound lanes for the past two months to replace the grid deck and the support beams, known as stringers. To learn more about the preservation project, visit the project webpage: ncdot.gov/CFMBrehab.
Azalea Festival in Wilmington
The Azalea Festival will take place April 3-7 at various times and locations in Wilmington. While all lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge will be open, some traffic patterns will be different to accommodate the thousands attending the festival.
The intersection of Airlie and Military Cutoff roads will be closed for the Garden Party between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on April 5.
The next day, from 9:30-11 a.m., the Azalea Festival Parade will take place, closing a portion of North 3rd Street and several side streets.
NCDOT urges drivers to be alert and drive slowly in downtown Wilmington throughout the festival and allow extra time, as commutes may take longer than normal.
Westbound Closures to Begin in April
Once the festival is over, NCDOT’s contractor will continue with the preservation project of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
Work to close the westbound lanes of the bridge, from Wilmington toward Leland, is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. on April 8 and take several hours to complete.
Once the westbound lanes are closed, drivers will be encouraged to take the Isabel Holmes Bridge, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and College Road or Interstate 140. NCDOT will continue to use message boards to alert drivers to the optimal route. Maps of the detour and links to DriveNC can be found on the project webpage.
The westbound lanes are anticipated to reopen to traffic ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
The department will continue to provide regular updates to the public and media.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
***NCDOT***
MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Haviland, Communications Officer for NCDOT Divisions 2 and 3
Email Lauren Haviland
Phone: 919.707.2677
From NCDOT: Cape Fear Memorial Bridge to Temporarily Close
Posted March 21, 2024 | Read Original Release on NCDOT Website
WILMINGTON, N.C. – As part of the preservation of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, the N.C. Department of Transportation will need to close all lanes of the bridge in approximately 10-minute intervals.
To extend the useful life of the bridge’s cable wires, which are a critical component, they will be cleaned, inspected and regreased with machinery.
While the eastbound lanes are closed, crews will perform this work on half of the wires. Beginning around 9 p.m. March 23, all lanes of the Wilmington bridge will close, so that the bridge can be lifted and brought back down, which takes about 10 minutes. The last operation will happen no later than 4 a.m. the following morning.
This will be done a total of eight times. Crews anticipate the work will take up to three nights and will continue March 25 and 26.
This lifting procedure is similar when the bridge rises for a large ship.
If drivers want to avoid a potential delay at the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge on these days, they should take the Isabel Holmes Bridge.
This work will be repeated on the westbound side in a couple of months.
For more details about the preservation of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, visit ncdot.gov/CFMBrehab.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
***NCDOT***
MEDIA CONTACT
Lauren Haviland, Communications Officer for NCDOT Divisions 2 and 3
Email Lauren Haviland
Phone: 919.707.2677
From NCDOT: Eastbound Lanes of Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Temporarily Closing
Posted Jan. 26, 2024 | Read Original Release on NCDOT Website
UPDATE – Due to the rain forecasted this weekend, the eastbound lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge will close at 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 29.
Below is the original release that was posted on Jan. 25, 2024.
Posted Jan. 25, 2024 | Read Original Release on NCDOT Website
WILMINGTON, N.C. – The eastbound lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge are scheduled to temporarily close this weekend for a preservation project.
Weather permitting, the contractor plans to close both lanes at 7 p.m. Jan. 28. The closure is expected to last through March 31. The westbound lanes will not be impacted during this time.
Closing both lanes of the bridge is necessary, as contract crews are replacing the grid deck and its support beams, known as stringers.
During the closure, drivers can take Isabel Holmes Bridge, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and College Road or Interstate 140. NCDOT will use message boards to alert drivers to the optimal route. Maps of the detour and links to DriveNC can be found here.
While the N.C. Department of Transportation plans to have all lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge open to traffic for the Azalea Festival, April 1-8. The contractor plans to continue work on April 9, closing the westbound lanes. It’s important to note the contractor is working under an aggressive schedule.
NCDOT provided these updates during a press conference on Thursday. The video will be uploaded here. The department encourages the media and public to continue to utilize ncdot.gov/CFMBrehab for the latest updates and detour information.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
***NCDOT***
Lauren Haviland, Communications Officer for NCDOT Divisions 2 and 3
Email Lauren Haviland
Phone: 919.707.2677
From NCDOT: Overnight Lane Closures on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge to Begin This Week
Posted Jan. 9, 2024 | Read Original Release on NCDOT Website
WILMINGTON, N.C. – Nightly lane closures on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge are scheduled to begin this week ahead of a preservation project.
Beginning Jan. 11, one lane in each direction of the bridge connecting Brunswick and New Hanover counties will close overnight. The closures are scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. and will reopen to traffic by 5 a.m. the next day. These lane closures are planned through Jan. 28.
To start, contract crews will close the outsides lanes, allowing them to build a platform off the bridge. Once completed, crews will close the inside lanes of the bridge to build a barrier wall, which will add another layer of protection during the upcoming preservation project.
The preservation project includes replacing the grid deck and its support beams, known as stringers. The N.C. Department of Transportation created a webpage ncdot.gov/CFMBrehab with detailed information, including the video of the latest press conference.
The department plans to hold another press conference later this month ahead of the eastbound lane closures. NCDOT will send an advisory when details are finalized.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
***NCDOT***
Lauren Haviland, Communications Officer for NCDOT Divisions 2 and 3
Email Lauren Haviland
Phone: 919.707.2677
From NCDOT: Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Preservation Project Scheduled to Begin Mid-January
Posted Dec. 20, 2023 | Read Original Release on NCDOT Website
WILMINGTON, N.C. – People in the Wilmington area should prepare for travel impacts on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge to begin after the holidays.
“While the bridge is safe, it is in need of critical repairs,” said Division Engineer Chad Kimes. “We need to start the project now to ensure enough time to complete this work before hurricane season and the start of the busy summer season.”
Work on a scheduled project to lengthen the lifespan of the bridge is set to begin in mid-January.
“It’s an old bridge that needs attention as soon as possible to give Wilmington-area residents and tourists a way to travel between Brunswick and New Hanover counties for many years to come, until the bridge can be replaced,” said Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization's Executive Director Mike Kozlosky.
The current plan is tentatively scheduled to begin the evening of Jan. 11.
- The contractor will close the outside lanes in both directions of the bridge nightly from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m.
- This closure will allow crews to safely create a platform to use during the project.
- Once the platform is complete, the outside lanes will reopen and the inside lanes in each direction will close overnight for crews to build a barrier wall.
As early as Jan. 28, crews will begin the preservation project.
- This work includes replacing the grid deck and its support beams.
- Crews will work seven days a week during daylight hours.
- Both eastbound lanes heading into Wilmington will be closed and travelers using the westbound lanes will not be affected during this part of the project.
The timing of the eastbound closure is dependent on the availability of materials needed for that part of the project. Due to the age of the bridge, there are limited suppliers who can provide the needed materials. Faced with disruption in the supply chain, NCDOT took proactive steps prior to a contract being awarded to begin securing materials for the project.
Detour Routes
During the eastbound closure, drivers can take Isabel Holmes Bridge, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and College Road or Interstate 140. NCDOT will use message boards to alert drivers to the optimal route. NCDOT will not resurface I-140 until after the bridge project is complete.
Wilmington officials say commercial trucks will not be allowed to use Third Street.
"Our team continues to coordinate with NCDOT and the city to understand our traffic flows and ensure early communication to our port-user community,” NC Ports Executive Director Brian Clark said.
Drivers should use caution while traveling through the work zone and plan accordingly for delays. For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
Future of Wilmington Bridge
The cost to maintain and operate a movable span structure is about $500,000 a year, and the cost continues to rise. NCDOT is continuing to work with its partners, including the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, on the future of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
In February 2022, the WMPO voted for NCDOT to look at all possible funding options for the bridge. In response, NCDOT has explored different funding options for a replacement bridge and conducted a Traffic and Revenue study.
Preliminary engineering is funded in the state’s prioritization plan. While construction of a replacement bridge is not included in the plan, the WMPO and NCDOT have placed the project in the state’s next round of prioritization to see how it would score using traditional funding models. A traditional funding model would be paid fully by the state, rather than a toll-funded project.
NCDOT also recently applied for a $200 million federal grant, which could be used to pay for a portion of the bridge replacement, as either a traditional or toll funded project, with state matching funds.
Next month, the WMPO is anticipated to decide whether a tolling option should also be included in prioritization. This does not mean the planning organization would be voting for tolling. This would allow NCDOT to continue work on the original vote of the WMPO to look at all funding options. The WMPO, in coordination with NCDOT, would have the ability to remove either option from prioritization.
NCDOT is not advocating for a particular path forward and per state law, any toll project must be approved by the local planning organization.
***NCDOT***
Lauren Haviland, Communications Officer for NCDOT Divisions 2 and 3
Email Lauren Haviland
Phone: 919.707.2677
From NCDOT: Preservation Project on Cape Fear Memorial Bridge to Temporarily Close Parts of Bridge
Posted Dec. 4, 2023 | Read Original Release on NCDOT Website
WILMINGTON, N.C. – A preservation project, to extend the life of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, will temporarily close portions of the bridge in the coming months.
Built in 1967, the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is reaching the end of its lifecycle and must be monitored, inspected, and maintained on a more frequent basis. Daily inspections of the steel vertical-lift bridge have shown the need to conduct longer-lasting improvements.
The work scheduled to begin in early 2024 will repair the moveable bridge deck.
Weather and material dependent, the eastbound lanes heading into Wilmington will close as early as Jan. 3. The westbound lanes will remain open to traffic. During this closure, those wanting to drive into Wilmington will detour to take the Isabel Holmes Bridge to Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard to College Road.
The bridge is scheduled to be open in both directions on April 1-7 for the North Carolina Azalea Festival in downtown Wilmington.
Tentatively, on April 8, contract crews will close the westbound lanes to traffic and reopen before Memorial Day.
The contractor, Southern Road & Bridge LLC, was awarded the $7.1 million contract on Nov. 30. The department has incentivized the company to finish early, potentially earning an extra $500,000.
The N.C. Department of Transportation will continue to update the public as more information becomes available.
For real-time travel information, visit DriveNC.gov or follow NCDOT on social media.
Lauren Haviland, Communications Officer for NCDOT Divisions 2 and 3
Email Lauren Haviland
Phone: 919.707.2677