NCDOT Redesigns Bridge Plan After 1,800 Public Comments

North Carolina transportation officials have redesigned Alternative B for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement after receiving more than 1,800 public comments opposing its downtown impacts. The revised 135-foot fixed-span proposal replaces a Fifth Avenue connection with a looping ramp to Third Street, reducing affected properties from 63 to 17 and eliminating residential relocations; its estimated cost is about $1.02 billion. NCDOT is also considering Alternative A, a shorter bridge with a movable span, and has opened a new public comment period through Dec. 4. The bridge is considered functionally obsolete, and officials say they are advancing replacement plans while addressing concerns about downtown traffic and historic properties.