Saturday, November 2, 2024

Feds award $242M grant to fund CF Memorial Bridge replacement

The Biden administration announced a $242 million grant — the most allowed under its Bridge Investment Program, part of Biden’s Infrastructure Law — has been awarded to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. (Courtesy photo)

NEW HANOVER COUNTY — A major artery connecting motorists entering Wilmington from across the state has received a major boost from the federal department of transportation.

READ MORE: USDOT grant to cover 50% of CFMB replacement gets boost from senators, other leaders

The Biden administration announced a $242 million grant — the most allowed under its Bridge Investment Program, part of Biden’s Infrastructure Law — has been awarded to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. The replacement has been estimated to cost around $485 million for a 135-foot fixed overpass along the Cape Fear River. It would be able to accommodate ships and built with an additional two lanes.

Multiple senators and local legislators wrote to the U.S. Department of Transportation earlier in the winter in support of the grant, including U.S. senators Ted Budd and Thom Tillis, both Republicans.

Tillis wrote in a statement Friday that he called U.S. Secretary Pete Buttigieg about this project to explain the importance of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge’s replacement.

“This was made possible by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, legislation that I’m proud to have helped author and pass into law,” Tillis wrote. “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.”

For years, the bridge replacement has not scored well on the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s 10-year evaluation until earlier this year when it was submitted twice: once with a toll option and again without. The non-tolled option ranked 241, with the toll option ranking in the top 10 and NCDOT committing $85 million to it.

That leaves more than $150 million to cover the remaining cost, but only if the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization votes for a toll and another grant isn’t secured.

However, the NCDOT also applied for a Multimodal Project Discretionary Grant in the spring. The U.S. Department of Transportation anticipates the opportunity will award approximately $5.1 billion for this round from FY2025 and FY2026 funding. 

The governor’s office was notified of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s $242 million award to the Cape Fear region Friday.

“This major grant from the Biden Administration is a game changer for the people of Southeastern North Carolina,” Governor Roy Cooper said in a release. “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.”

Around 70,000 travelers cross the bridge daily, expected to tick up to 100,000 by 2050. The bridge was built in 1969 and its maintenance costs the NCDOT roughly $500,000 annually for the vertical lift bridge. It underwent a $7.1 million restoration project earlier in the year, with lanes closed from January through May, to add to its life expectancy; however some of its parts are obsolete, making its replacement imminent.

Mayor Bill Saffo released a statement upon the announcement Friday, noting it was integral to the resiliency of “America’s supply chain and national security,” as the bridge is a direct connection to the Wilmington Port. Its 3,000-foot-long steel vertical-lift carries trucks traveling from U.S. 17, U.S. 76 and U.S. 421. The mayor also praised the announcement as “historic.”

“Replacing this bridge was only made possible through the shared commitment of federal, state, and local leaders,” Saffo wrote. “Securing a fully funded bridge replacement remains a top priority for the City of Wilmington and our MPO. I have great confidence in our community, our elected representatives, and our state and federal administrations to build on this investment and deliver a vital piece of transportation infrastructure for generations to come.”

The bridge replacement has been discussed for years among area leaders. The WMPO board has voted multiple times to explore all options on funding its replacement. This came with a controversial vote earlier this year to also explore a toll, to see if the bridge would finally place on the NCDOT’s priority list. NCDOT representatives’ position has been that demonstrating an open-mindedness to a toll would attract more funding opportunities as well, specifically federal grants such as the one announced Friday.

The 13-member WMPO board voted 8-5 to explore the toll option, which worked in its favor — though not everyone was onboard. Leaders from inland towns, such as Wilmington, Leland and Navassa, were against it, while beach town leaders from Wrightsville, Carolina and Kure remained in favor. Some feared even exploring a toll would make it the only option forward.

Commissioner Jonathan Barfield voted against its exploration, as did Saffo and city council member Luke Waddell. Waddell has called a toll a “double tax” on residents, already charged with a gas tax and other fees to NCDOT.

Alternately, the New Hanover County Commissioner chair voted in favor to see if it would help the bridge rank with NCDOT. Bill Rivenbark also provided a statement upon Friday’s grant announcement:

“For years, we have worked alongside our federal legislators and advocated at all levels of government to secure the funding needed to replace the aging Cape Fear Memorial Bridge,” he wrote. “We are grateful to those in Washington for making this $242 million grant possible, bringing us closer to the replacement bridge becoming a reality. This is a milestone moment for our residents and region, as the bridge is a lifeline for industry, tourism, travel, and more. We look forward to a state-of-the-art replacement that will serve our community’s needs for generations to come.” 


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Shea Carver
Shea Carver
Shea Carver is the editor in chief at Port City Daily. A UNCW alumna, Shea worked in the print media business in Wilmington for 22 years before joining the PCD team in October 2020. She specializes in arts coverage — music, film, literature, theatre — the dining scene, and can often be tapped on where to go, what to do and who to see in Wilmington. When she isn’t hanging with her pup, Shadow Wolf, tending the garden or spinning vinyl, she’s attending concerts and live theater.

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