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Resolution Adopting Comments on the Environmental Assessment Related to the Proposed Replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
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Department: |
Planning & Development |
Meeting Date: |
9/1/2026 |
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Contact Name: |
Linda Painter |
Public Hearing: |
N/A |
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Contact Phone: |
910-341-7806 |
Advertising Date/Advertised By: |
N/A |
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Attachments: |
Attachment #1: Resolution |
PURPOSE:
Presented for your consideration is a resolution containing the City Council’s response and comment to the Environmental Assessment (EA) conducted by the U.S. Department of Transportation (“USDOT”), Federal Highway Administration (“FHWA”), and the N.C. Department of Transportation (“NCDOT”) regarding the proposed replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
BACKGROUND:
The NCDOT is proposing to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. NCDOT released the Environmental Assessment (“EA”) for the replacement of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge on Friday, August 14, 2026. The EA currently evaluates two alternatives for the replacement of the bridge:
• Alternative A: A moveable span with 65-135 feet of vertical clearance and an estimated cost of $1,110,700,000
• Alternative B: A fixed span with 135 feet of vertical clearance and an estimated cost of $1,029,800,000
A third alternative for a fixed span with 100 feet of vertical clearance was eliminated from consideration based on the May 2025 Preliminary Navigation Clearance Determination issued by the U.S. Coast Guard, which requires at least 135 feet of vertical clearance and 400 feet of horizontal clearance.
To date, NCDOT has received a $242 million grant from the USDOT and $85 million from the State Transportation Improvement Program (“STIP”) for the replacement bridge (toll option), for a total of $327 million of dedicated project funding for design and construction of the bridge replacement. Tolling the replacement bridge has been proposed to help close the project's funding gap. Approval of the North Carolina Legislature is needed to use tolling as a funding source for this project, as the NC Turnpike Authority is prohibited from converting any segment of the non-tolled state highway system to a toll facility. Current statutes also require MPO approval to convert an existing segment to a toll route.
In February 2022, the WMPO Board endorsed exploring all potential funding options to replace the aging Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. In January 2024, the WMPO Board requested NCDOT modify the WMPO’s Strategic Prioritization 7.0 project submittal for the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge replacement to be scored as a toll facility. Based on this submittal and scoring, the tolled version scored high enough in the statewide tier to receive $85 million, while the non-tolled version did not score high enough to receive any funding.
Since the inclusion of the project in the STIP, the WMPO has adopted multiple resolutions in support of pursuing all possible funding options for the replacement bridge, including amending the Cape Fear Moving Forward 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan (“MTP”) to include the replacement bridge as a toll facility, including it in the Cape Fear Navigating Change 2050 MTP as a toll facility in the fiscally constrained project list, and adopting the 2026-2035 State/MPO Transportation Improvement program including the bridge replacement as a toll project with the toll status dependent on a statutory amendment. While no additional action from the WMPO is needed for the bridge to be a toll facility, the WMPO Board has reserved the right to withdraw any approval of a toll option at any time up until the Department advertises for a contract to construct the replacement bridge. The WMPO has until February 2027 to withdraw its approval of the toll option.
The EA notes that assumed toll rates would begin at $2 for Class 1 (2-axle vehicles) and $6 for Classes 2 and 3 (3- or more-axle vehicles), with expected annual increases based on the consumer price index. The EA includes a high-level evaluation of the potential impacts of tolling, including the estimate that traffic on the Isabel Holmes Bridge would increase by 43% in 2030; however, the analysis is limited to evaluation of volume to capacity ratios, with a note that “an updated peak hour analysis will be performed between the release of this EA and issuance of the final NEPA document, which is anticipated to be a Finding of No Significant Impact (“FONSI”), to recognize concentrated commuter traffic and peak hour trends.”
Two public hearings are being held, on September 14, 2026, at Cape Fear Community College and on September 15, 2026, at the Leland Cultural Arts Center. Public comments are being accepted through October 15, 2026. Due to the length and complexity of the EA and its associated appendices, staff is developing detailed comments for Council’s endorsement at the October 6, 2026, meeting. However, as the public hearings are scheduled for September, staff recommends adopting an initial response resolution that identifies the City’s preferred path forward and expresses opposition to the use of tolls.
BUDGET IMPACT:
N/A
RECOMMENDATION / ACTION REQUESTED:
Approval of a resolution adopting formal comments for submission in response to the Environmental Assessment.