The closing of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge to eastbound traffic has been quite the topic of conversation across the region for the past couple of months.
While this is a major inconvenience, I’m personally glad repairs are being made. But I am one of those Brunswick County residents who commutes to Wilmington for work. Thankfully, I can work from home most days, but I know many folks who can’t do that.
I just hope everyone will be patient and understanding. Getting to Wilmington will take more time, so we will all need to plan ahead.
The bigger issue is why we don’t already have another bridge connecting New Hanover and Brunswick counties. Given the growth in both counties in the past 25 years, it’s clearly needed.
In fact, it seems like officials have been talking about another bridge since I came here in 1999. We can’t wait any longer. The Cape Fear Memorial Bridge simply won’t last forever.
In today’s cover story, Renee Spencer looks at the impact of the closure and what’s ahead. Let’s hope a new bridge is on the horizon.