Cape Fear Memorial Bridge project not impacted by potential federal funding freeze

WILMINGTON, N.C. (WECT) - New Hanover County leaders have revealed the next steps in the project to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.

The US Coast Guard and the US Army Corps of Engineers will determine the height of the new bridge by March 2025, according to the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) Executive Director Mike Kozlosky.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation said the 56-year-old bridge can no longer effectively service the current traffic demands.

While it is safe, the bridge is reaching the end of its lifecycle.

Three proposed bridge designs have already been released, ranging from 65 feet to 135 feet.

The replacement is set to total well over $400 million.

According to a release from the Wilmington Historic Foundation, 132 comments were in favor of the second option, 131 expressed concern for the historic district, 96 were in favor of the first option and 50 comments for the first option.

Want to make your voice heard?

If you would like to make your voice heard about the replacement project, neighbors have until early March to comment.

According to the Wilmington District of the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), “Comments regarding the proposed work should reference the USACE public notice number (408-SAW-2024-0030) and must reach the USACE via email no later than March 3, 2025, to become part of the public record and be considered in the USACE’s decision.”

You can send comments to the Wilmington District Section 408 Coordinator at: ronnie.d.smith@usace.army.mil.

Is the CFMB project impacted by the Trump Administration’s potential federal funding freeze?

Over the summer, the project was awarded $242 million by the Biden-Harris Administration as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

However, the potential federal funding freeze enacted by the Trump Administration last month did raise questions about how funding for the bridge project would be impacted.

Local leaders said the project won’t be affected right now.

“Any temporary freeze should not significantly impact the bridge project. The funding obligation through the Large Bridge Project award, through the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) competitive Bridge Investment Program, would not be available until 2026,” Kozlosky told WECT Monday.

Even with the millions from Washington, there is still a substantial funding gap on the project.

“The WMPO is committed to working with our partners at NCDOT to develop a funding solution to deliver the project with the committed USDOT funding. The project is in the planning and preliminary engineering phases and NCDOT is continuing forward with project development,” Kozlosky continued.

WECT also received a statement from NCDOT Monday saying, “Locally, we have not been directed to pause or hold on any work, and we are continuing to complete the planning phase of this project. We will continue to review and evaluate potential project costs for different design options to replace the bridge, so we have as much information as possible.”