North Carolina Secures $242M Grant for Cape Fear Bridge Replacement
Built in 1969, the current steel vertical-lift bridge requires significant maintenance and is deemed functionally obsolete
The Biden Administration has awarded a $242 million grant through its Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to replace the aging Cape Fear Memorial Bridge in Wilmington, North Carolina. The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, a 3,000-foot-long steel vertical-lift structure built in 1969, currently serves as a critical transportation link carrying U.S. Highways 17, 76, and 421 over the Cape Fear River, connecting Brunswick and New Hanover counties.
The new bridge, set to be a high-rise, fixed-span structure, aims to address the growing transportation needs of the region. “This major grant from the Biden Administration is a game changer for the people of Southeastern North Carolina,” said Governor Roy Cooper. “The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is a critical lifeline for Wilmington and our economy, used every day by thousands of residents, tourists headed to the beach, and truck drivers going to and from the port. I appreciate President Biden’s leadership and commitment to rebuilding our aging infrastructure and look forward to getting this transformational project underway.”
Despite recent rehabilitation efforts in the spring of 2024 that left the bridge in fair condition, maintaining and operating the moveable span still costs approximately $500,000 annually. With daily traffic expected to increase from 70,000 vehicles to nearly 100,000 by 2050, state transportation officials emphasized the necessity of a modern replacement. A North Carolina Department of Transportation feasibility study has deemed the current bridge functionally obsolete due to escalating repair and maintenance costs.
The $242 million grant, part of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Bridge Investment Program-Large Bridge Project, will cover roughly half of the estimated $485 million replacement cost.
“This was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that I’m proud to have helped author and pass into law,” said Senator Thom Tillis. “It’s already provided more than $10 billion to rebuild North Carolina’s infrastructure, and the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement is the latest project that will benefit our great state.”
Local leaders echoed the importance of this project for the region’s growth and connectivity. Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo highlighted the bridge’s role as an essential connection between Wilmington and the wider world, while New Hanover County Board of Commissioners Chair Bill Rivenbark called it a “milestone moment” for the area’s residents and economy.
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