WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH — The first phase of Wrightsville Beach’s three-bridge replacement project is set to begin this month, according to the North Carolina Department of Transportation. Balfour Beatty was awarded nearly $9 million to complete the work.
The first phase of construction includes a waterline relocation, to cost $8.7 million, will begin in October; NCDOT said it does not know the official start date. The waterline work will take anywhere from four to eight weeks to complete, and will be followed by the reconstruction of the smaller bridge on West Salisbury Street over Lees Cut.
Balfour Beatty was announced as the contractor for the three-bridge project in February, as previously reported by Port City Daily; in total, the replacements will cost $105-million. The company has experience with infrastructure needs, having built the Surf City Bridge, UNCW Veterans Hall and more in the tri-county region.
READ MORE: NCDOT three-bridge construction in Wrightsville Beach fast-tracked by 2 years
The waterline relocation will be completed prior to construction of the new bridge over Lees Cut. Residents can expect to see equipment on Pelican Drive and on the shoulder of West Salisbury Street. According to the NCDOT, the waterline construction is not expected to impact traffic.
Once complete, West Salisbury Street over Lees Cut will be fully closed for construction of the new bridge. This bridge is the first of three slated to be replaced.
After completing phase one, the Salisbury Long Bridge construction will begin in the summer of 2027, followed by the Causeway bridge. The project is paid for by the NCDOT’s improvement program.
Residents can receive updates on the replacement project here.
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