WRIGHTSVILLE BEACH – A portion of U.S. 74 (West Salisbury Street) over Lees Cut is expected to close next month to begin Phase 1 of the Wrightsville Beach bridge replacement project.
Beginning at 5 a.m. Nov. 30, the contractor, Balfour Beatty, plans to fully close West Salisbury Street from Pelican Drive to Lookout Harbor Way. Contract crews will demolish the old bridge and begin building a new one. No vehicular or pedestrian traffic will be permitted in the work zone.
The anticipated start date is subject to change based on completion of the current utility relocation.
Motorists should also expect to see intermittent lane closures on West Salisbury Street over the next few weeks leading up to the full closure.
The new bridge will include two 12-foot travel lanes (one in each direction) and two 6-foot bike lanes, as well as a 12-foot multi-use path on the south side of the bridge.
The bridge over Lees Cut is expected to be complete by summer 2027, which will reopen this portion of West Salisbury Street. After that, crews will begin construction on the longer bridge on West Salisbury Street over Banks Channel.
To receive updates regarding the Wrightsville Beach bridge replacement project, residents, media and local partners are encouraged to sign up via the project webpage.