The Cape Fear Skyway
The Cape Fear Skyway is a proposed 9.5 mile roadway/ 165-187 foot cable-stayed bridge that would connect New Hanover and Brunswick Counties. It would also be the region’s first toll roadway.
This project has already gone through countless changes, but as I understand it now, the Skyway would connect U.S. 17 in Brunswick County to the intersection of Carolina Beach Road and Independence Boulevard in Wilmington. The precise route will be determined later in the planning process. According to news station WWAY, “Previous plans for the bridge would cut directly into the Brunswick County subdivision, Snee Farm. Wednesday, two new ideas were proposed. They would bypass residential areas, and go north of the Brunswick Forest subdivision. Brunswick County officials are generally in favor of those plans.”
The need for newer and improved transportation in this area is crucial. The project is intended to relieve congestion on the aging Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, which is apparently considered functionally obsolete by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and offer an alternative for commuters between New Hanover and Brunswick counties. If you don’t see a need for improved transportation in this area or replacing a functionally obsolete bridge, I’m sorry. I really don’t think this is an issue that needs defending or justification.
I’m fascinated with how big this project is suppose to be. Currently, the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is about 65 feet above the water and the proposed bridge would be 165-187… that’s a big bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is only 135 ft above the water and the Golden Gate Bridge is 220. Granted, the Skyway will not compare to the total span of either of these bridge. According to the Star News, “Earlier proposals called for a 225-foot high-rise bridge, but consultants said their research indicated that a lower bridge might be able to accommodate the cargo and cruise ships that would use the river in the future.”
The purpose of me writing is to encourage Wilmington residents to write the planners and council members (of both New Hanover and Brunswick County) to encourage them to act quickly and effectively on this project. We’ve all seen what can happen when projects sit for too long… i.e. the “convention center” - yes, it’s in quotes because it is not worthy of the title; it is nothing more than a high-school gym or a church function hall. In 3 years, Wilmington will have outgrown this hideous, bland piece of architecture and the problems will be multiplied. I’m fed up with all the bickering and ignorance regarding growth in a city. If you want to live in a dying city where you will not have to deal with issues like convention centers, hotels, and bridges connecting adjoining counties, please move to Idaho. (On a side note, I would really love to visit Idaho and I have nothing against it. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful state with incredible natural beauty.)
There is a meeting on the matter on October 28 at Wilmington City Hall.
The Cape Fear Skyway
The Cape Fear Skyway
The Cape Fear Skyway is a proposed 9.5 mile roadway/ 165-187 foot cable-stayed bridge that would connect New Hanover and Brunswick Counties. It would also be the region’s first toll roadway.
This project has already gone through countless changes, but as I understand it now, the Skyway would connect U.S. 17 in Brunswick County to the intersection of Carolina Beach Road and Independence Boulevard in Wilmington. The precise route will be determined later in the planning process. According to news station WWAY, “Previous plans for the bridge would cut directly into the Brunswick County subdivision, Snee Farm. Wednesday, two new ideas were proposed. They would bypass residential areas, and go north of the Brunswick Forest subdivision. Brunswick County officials are generally in favor of those plans.”
The need for newer and improved transportation in this area is crucial. The project is intended to relieve congestion on the aging Cape Fear Memorial Bridge, which is apparently considered functionally obsolete by the North Carolina Department of Transportation, and offer an alternative for commuters between New Hanover and Brunswick counties. If you don’t see a need for improved transportation in this area or replacing a functionally obsolete bridge, I’m sorry. I really don’t think this is an issue that needs defending or justification.
I’m fascinated with how big this project is suppose to be. Currently, the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is about 65 feet above the water and the proposed bridge would be 165-187… that’s a big bridge. The Brooklyn Bridge is only 135 ft above the water and the Golden Gate Bridge is 220. Granted, the Skyway will not compare to the total span of either of these bridge. According to the Star News, “Earlier proposals called for a 225-foot high-rise bridge, but consultants said their research indicated that a lower bridge might be able to accommodate the cargo and cruise ships that would use the river in the future.”
The purpose of me writing is to encourage Wilmington residents to write the planners and council members (of both New Hanover and Brunswick County) to encourage them to act quickly and effectively on this project. We’ve all seen what can happen when projects sit for too long… i.e. the “convention center” - yes, it’s in quotes because it is not worthy of the title; it is nothing more than a high-school gym or a church function hall. In 3 years, Wilmington will have outgrown this hideous, bland piece of architecture and the problems will be multiplied. I’m fed up with all the bickering and ignorance regarding growth in a city. If you want to live in a dying city where you will not have to deal with issues like convention centers, hotels, and bridges connecting adjoining counties, please move to Idaho. (On a side note, I would really love to visit Idaho and I have nothing against it. I’ve heard it’s a beautiful state with incredible natural beauty.)
There is a meeting on the matter on October 28 at Wilmington City Hall.