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            • President's Report from September 8, 2026

              The future of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is entering an important phase, and we encourage you to stay engaged and participate in the public process. The Greater Wilmington Chamber of Commerce continues to support Alternative B: a fixed-span replacement bridge with 135 feet of vertical clearance.

               

              We support this option because we believe the bridge we build today needs to serve our region for generations. The existing bridge, opened in 1969, is functionally obsolete and can no longer effectively meet current traffic demands. Alternative B would provide a six-lane fixed-span bridge with a 15-foot multi-use path and allow ships to pass beneath the bridge without interrupting vehicle traffic. It is also the more cost-effective option, with lower upfront construction costs and fewer ongoing maintenance needs.

               

              We also believe it is important to keep this project moving. NCDOT has already secured a $242 million federal Bridge Investment Program grant for the replacement project. That is a significant federal investment in our region, and we should do everything we can to protect the funding already committed and avoid unnecessary delays that could put the project and its funding at greater risk.

               

              That does not mean the process is finished or that every question has been answered. We should remain engaged, ask questions, review the details and continue advocating for the improvements our region needs. Now is the time for Chamber members to participate.

               

              Submit a Comment to NCDOT

              Submit your comment through NCDOT’s public input portal

               

              The public comment period is open through October 15, 2026, and NCDOT will consider comments as the project moves forward and a preferred alternative is selected.

               

              Attend a Public Hearing

              Monday, September 14

              Cape Fear Community College, Daniels Hall

              502 N. Front St., Wilmington

              Doors open at 4:30 p.m. | Hearing begins at 6 p.m.

               

              Tuesday, September 15

              Leland Cultural Arts Center

              1212 Magnolia Village Way, Leland

              Doors open at 4:30 p.m. | Hearing begins at 6 p.m.

               

              You do not have to attend a hearing to participate. Please take a few minutes to submit a comment, attend a hearing if you can, and encourage your employees, colleagues and business partners to do the same. This is a regional project that will affect how people and goods move throughout the Cape Fear region for decades.

               

              We should stay engaged. We should protect the investment already secured. And we should keep working toward a bridge that meets the needs of our growing region.