View the NCDOT Cape Fear Memorial Bridge Preservation Project webpage
View the full release from NCDOT
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 here.
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.
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