As a downtown Wilmington bridge needs repairs, city searches for more bids
The city of Wilmington is continuing its search for a bridge rehabilitation contractor after rejecting all previous bids.
Wilmington City Council adopted a resolution rejecting all construction bids for the rehabilitation of Front Street Bridge at a meeting on June 17. The bridge, which runs through the Cape Fear Community College campus between Red Cross and Hanover streets, was originally built in 1965.
Two bids were received for the project and the lower bidder did not meet the necessary N.C. Department of Transportation prequalification for the scope of work of the project. The second bidder was significantly over the project's overall budget. This is the second round of bidding for the project, with an insufficient number of bids received in April.
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Council member Charlie Rivenbark questioned why an unqualified contractor was able to bid on the project. Project manager Kyle Burden said the project is particularly complex, triggering additional code requirements. The project must adhere to NCDOT's prequalification codes regarding concrete structures, painting steel structures and welding.
The project is still expected to begin work in the fall, Wilmington Assistant Director of Corporate Affairs Dylan Lee said. There are no safety concerns with the current bridge, and it will remain open until construction begins.
The Front Street Bridge rehabilitation project includes a full deck replacement and repairs to existing bent pedestals. The steel members of the bridge will also undergo cleaning, painting and repairs. The bridge has an annual average daily traffic count of 5,100 vehicles.
Improvements are also planned along South Front Street near the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge. NCDOT has proposed widening the stretch of the roadway from Kentucky Avenue to Dawson Street. The roadway would be widened to four lanes and include a median and a 10-foot multiuse path.
The project also encompasses the intersection at South Front Street, Burnett Boulevard and Carolina Beach Road. The intersection would be converted into a double quadrant intersection, reducing congestion and travel time by prohibiting all left turns. Left-turning drivers would be rerouted to a connector street and make a series of right turns.
A design alternative is being considered to shift a portion of the Wilmington Terminal Railroad out of the middle of South Front Street. The design would remove one of the two existing railroad crossings along the project corridor. Improvements are being designed to minimize potential impacts to the Wilmington Historic District. The total cost of the project is $31.6 million and construction is expected to begin in 2027.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: What to know about Front Street Bridge repairs in Wilmington, NC
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