Changes are coming... New Bridge for Surf City 2017
High-Level Fixed Bridge
The N.C. Department of Transportation proposes to build a new bridge to replace the existing swing bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway on N.C. 50/210 in Surf City. This is one of two bridges providing access to Topsail Island.
The existing bridge is a steel truss swing span bridge that was built in the 1950s and is due for replacement. The new bridge will address the existing needs as follows:
Based on the information obtained to date, the reviewing agencies and the Project Team agreed to select Alternative 17 as the preferred alternative for the B-4929 Bridge Replacement project. The following factors led to selecting Alternative 17 as the Preferred Alternative because it:
The existing bridge is a steel truss swing span bridge that was built in the 1950s and is due for replacement. The new bridge will address the existing needs as follows:
- Provide a connecting structure between the mainland and the island with sufficient capacity allowing for emergency access, hurricane evacuation, and acceptable travel times.
- Improve the structural capacity of the bridge.
- Provide consistency with state/local land use and transportation plans.
Based on the information obtained to date, the reviewing agencies and the Project Team agreed to select Alternative 17 as the preferred alternative for the B-4929 Bridge Replacement project. The following factors led to selecting Alternative 17 as the Preferred Alternative because it:
- Results in the least number of residential and business relocations.
- Replaces the existing swing bridge with a 65 foot high-level fixed bridge, eliminating vehicular/vessel delays from bridge openings/closings.
- Has no impacts to ponds or streams and minimal wetland impacts.
- Was the most preferred from the citizen comments.
- Maintains a connection to the existing central business district.
- Has the lowest total cost ($57 million), while the other alternatives are approximately 10% to 75% higher in cost.
- Minimizes impacts to Soundside Park when compared to Alternatives 6 and 7.
- Can be constructed without requiring a detour bridge and without closing the existing bridge during construction.
Mainland Connection
Island Connection
* * Click to watch a YouTube video of the New Bridge * *
Listed Below are Older Graphics