RALEIGH – The following are highlights from this week at the N.C. Department of Transportation. The stories below are also featured in NCDOT Now, the department's weekly newscast.
Cape Fear Memorial Bridge
Federal, state and local officials gathered in Wilmington this week to celebrate a major grant announcement.
The U.S. Department of Transportation recently announced a $242 million grant funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support the project to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge.
Built in 1969, the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge is a 3,000-foot-long steel vertical-lift bridge that carries U.S. 17/U.S. 76 /U.S. 421 over the Cape Fear River and connects Brunswick and New Hanover counties.
The new structure is proposed to be a high-rise, fixed-span bridge.
Rail Ridership
North Carolina’s intercity passenger rail service continues to set new records for ridership
For the first six months of 2024 over 342,000 customers have ridden NC By Train, which is 20% higher than during the same period in 2023.
Each month in 2024 has been record-breaking for that particular month.
Ridership has been bolstered by the addition of a fifth round-trip train frequency between Raleigh and Charlotte in July 2023, as well as recent special event trains providing service to new locations.
Visit
here for more information, to plan a trip and to buy tickets.
Speed Wrecks Lives
Drivers can expect increased patrols from July 22-26 across the state as part of the “Speed Wrecks Lives” initiative.
Speed Wrecks lives is a national campaign promoting safe travel by ensuring that drivers slow down, buckle up and avoid distractions.
Speeding is a major cause of injuries and deaths on North Carolina roadways.
It can reduce a driver’s ability to safely navigate curves, making it more difficult for a vehicle to stop. Speed limits aren’t a suggestion; it’s the law. The choices you make behind the wheel can help save lives.
For more information about NCDOT Now, contact the NCDOT Communications Office at (919) 707-2660. Additional news stories from throughout the week can be found on NCDOT.gov.