WILMINGTON – The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge will undergo intermittent lane closures beginning Sunday, according to a notice from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT). Motorists are advised to expect all inbound lanes to Wilmington to be closed overnight next week until Thursday.
The closures are needed for workers to conduct safety inspections and repair various components of the bridge. The intermittent lane closures will begin between 9 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 11, and 5 a.m. Monday, Sept. 12, with at least one lane remaining open in each direction.
Crews will be repairing areas of the metal deck damaged from changes in weather and from wear and fatigue. They’ll also inspect the remainder of the deck and make repairs as needed, according to the notice.
During the closures, motorists coming into Wilmington are advised to detour to U.S. 421/17/74 north across the Thomas Rhodes Bridge, and take U.S. 74 East (Martin Luther King Parkway) to U.S. 117 South (North College Road) to U.S. 421 (Carolina Beach Road) north to U.S. 76.
The work will continue Monday night through early Thursday morning, as crews inspect and repair bridge cables. The work will require the closure of all inbound lanes of travel into Wilmington from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. each night.
Eastbound lanes will re-open in time for the morning commute. Westbound lanes will remain open. The work is scheduled and will happen weather permitting. The bridge will not have any closures outside the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. time period.
During the closures, motorists coming into Wilmington are advised to detour to U.S. 421/17/74 north across the Thomas Rhodes Bridge, and take U.S. 74 East (Martin Luther King Parkway) to U.S. 117 South (North College Road) to U.S. 421 (Carolina Beach Road) north to U.S. 76.
Motorists are advised to use caution while traveling in the area and to expect delays. The NCDOT urges motorists to watch signs for construction and detour information, stay alert and obey the posted speed limit.
For more information on bridge inspections, including definitions of terms and how inspections work visit the North Carolina Bridge Information website. For real-time travel information visit the Traveler Services section of the NCDOT website.
