This page is intended to provide information and accept public comment/questions on the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement Project.

For additional information, please visit the NCDOT webpage:  

https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/cape-fear-bridge-replacement/Pages/default.aspx

Project Update and New Opportunity for Comment

On Sept. 14 and 15, NCDOT held two public hearings regarding the proposed Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Replacement. At the hearings, the Department presented the following alternatives:  

• Alternative A - a bridge with a movable span with a proposed 65-foot to 135-foot vertical clearance over the Cape Fear River. 

• Alternative B - a fixed-span bridge with a 135-foot vertical clearance and trumpet interchange improvements.  

Following the hearings and review of public comments, NCDOT revised Alternative B to minimize impacts to the historic district, which addresses many of the comments received from the community. 

• Revised Alternative B would maintain the 135-foot fixed span while eliminating a significant amount of the impacts to downtown Wilmington using a large loop design that will provide access to Third Street. 

NCDOT is seeking additional public comment on Revised Alternative B. Below, please view an updated map, renderings, and addendum to the Environmental Assessment, and share your feedback with us. Comments will be accepted through Nov. 30, 2026. 

Alternative A and REVISED Alternative B

Please review the maps and visuals for both proposed alternatives. Alternative A is unchanged, however, Revised Alternative B reflects design changes influenced by public feedback.

For your reference, the archived maps and visuals for the scrapped Alternative B design can be found here: (link)

Click on any map or image to enlarge.

Alternative A

 Moveable Structure​ (65 to 135-foot Vertical Clearance)

 Revised Alternative B 

Fixed Structure​ (135-foot Vertical Clearance)

Bridge Typical Section

(Both Alternatives propose the same typical cross section)

Alternative A  

Moveable Structure​ 

(65 to 135-foot Vertical Clearance) 

  Alt A - View from the Riverwalk at Sunset 

Alt A - View from Wooster and Dawson looking West

 Revised Alternative B 

Fixed Structure​ 

(135-foot Vertical Clearance)

  Rev. Alt B - View from the Riverwalk at Sunset 

  Rev. Alt B - View from Wooster and Dawson looking West

Environmental Document 

The Environmental Document, an Environmental Assessment, has been completed and is available for review here.

The associated appendices are available here.  This is a very large document and may load slowly.

For this current comment period, please consider reviewing and providing feedback regarding this new addendum: Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Environmental Assessment Addendum

Project Funding:

This project is listed as Project HB-0039 in the N.C. Department of Transportation's State Transportation Improvement Program. The U.S. Department of Transportation awarded a $242 million grant to aid with funding of the replacement bridge in 2024. The total estimated project cost is $1.1 billion.

Project Timeline: 

* Future dates are subject to change. 

Next Steps

After the comment period ends, the project team will meet to review the comments received and prepare a public comment summary, which will be posted to the project website. NCDOT will continue to coordinate with local government and agency partners to review public comments in conjunction with subsequent technical studies to select a preferred alternative. The alternative selection is anticipated in Late 2026.

Project Comments:

NCDOT accepts comments throughout all phases of project development.  

The current public comment period regarding Alternative A and REVISED Alternative B will close on November 30, 2026.

All comments will be taken into consideration, and carry equal weight, regardless of submittal method.

The public is encouraged to leave comments using this email or phone number

or by USPS mail to the project manager listed below:

Email: CapeFearMemorialBridge@publicinput.com

Phone Number: 984-205-6615 and enter project code 10626 to leave a message

Interagency Coordination

The information provided is also provided on behalf of the Department of the Army, who will, at a future time, be asked for authorization to discharge dredged or fill material into waters of the United States. 

The decision whether to issue a permit will be based on an evaluation of the probable impacts including cumulative impacts of the proposed activity on the public interest.  That decision will reflect the national concern for both protection and utilization of important resources.  The benefit which reasonably may be expected to accrue from the proposal must be balanced against its reasonably foreseeable detriments.  

For activities involving the discharge of dredged or fill materials in waters of the United States, the evaluation of the impact of the activity on the public interest will include application of the Environmental Protection Agency’s 404(b)(1) guidelines (40 CFR Part 230). 

The Corps of Engineers is soliciting comments from the public; Federal, State and local agencies and officials, including any consolidated State Viewpoint or written position of the Governor; Native American Tribes and other interested parties in order to consider and evaluate the impacts of this proposed activity. Any comments received will be considered by the Corps of Engineers to select the least environmentally damaging practicable alternative (LEDPA) for this proposal.  To make this decision, comments are used to assess impacts on endangered species, historic properties, water quality, general environmental effects and other public interest factors.  Public interest factors may include, but are not limited to: conservation, economics, aesthetics, general environmental concerns, wetlands, historic properties, fish and wildlife values, flood hazards, flood plain values (in accordance with Executive Order 11988), land use, navigation, shoreline erosion and accretion, recreation, water supply and conservation, water quality, energy needs, safety, food and fiber production, mineral needs, considerations of property ownership, and, in general, the needs and welfare of the people.

All comments received will also be evaluated and used in the determination of whether to (1) process this project under an Individual Permit, in which case the Corps will prepare a project specific Environmental Assessment (EA) and/or an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) pursuant to NEPA, or (2) verify that this project meets the terms and conditions for use of Regional General Permit 31 or another general permit.  Comments are also used to determine the need for a public hearing and to determine the overall public interest of the proposed activity. 

Although all comments provided on the subject project will be shared between the NCDOT Project Team and the Corps of Engineers, comments may also be provided directly to the Corps of Engineers representative for the subject project: 

Matthew K. Martin
69 Darlington Ave, Wilmington, NC 28403
Matthew.K.Martin@usace.army.mil / (984) 800-3741

Project Manager

Mason Herndon

NCDOT Highway Division 3

5501 Barbados Boulevard

Castle Hayne, NC  28429

CapeFearMemorialBridge@publicinput.com

Title VI Feedback

To ensure we’re hearing from a broad set of voices, would you be willing to share (completely anonymously) some information about yourself?

If so, please click here https://publicinput.com/NCDOT-Title-VI-Form

Resources for Property Owners

Although the N.C. Department of Transportation works to minimize the number of homes and businesses displaced by a road

project, it is inevitable, in many cases, that a certain amount of private property is needed. The following information explains right

of way acquisition and answers questions about the process.  

     
Right-of-Way Brochure Single Page Layout      Folleto del Proceso de Adquisición de Bienes Raíces
Right-of-Way Frequently Asked Questions

Right of Way Acquisition Process Videos

English                                                                     Spanish

Page last updated: November 03, 2026

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