WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — Contract crews for the North Carolina Department of Transportation will begin utility relocation this summer for the Wrightsville Beach bridge replacement project in New Hanover County.
Utility relocation will begin this summer around the smaller bridge on West Salisbury Street (U.S. Highway 74) over Lees Cut and will involve intermittent lane closures. Wrightsville Beach drivers can also expect to see surveying operations and right-of-way staking as soon as this week.
Construction of the smaller bridge on West Salisbury Street over Lees Cut is expected to begin by the end of 2026, though the current bridge will not close to traffic for replacement until after Labor Day.
NCDOT is replacing three vital bridges that provide direct access to and from Wrightsville Beach. Two bridges along West Salisbury Street over Lees Cut and Banks Channel and one on Causeway Drive (U.S. Highway 76) over Banks Channel will be replaced with new structures.
The project will replace the aging structures to improve connectivity and provide a long-term, safe, and efficient multi-modal crossing of Banks Channel and Lees Cut. The new bridges also include upgrades for walkers and cyclists.
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