cape fear crossing

Cape Fear Crossing

Town of Leland Transportation Oversight Committee

February 7, 2019

Presentation Highlights

•Project History

• Environmental and Merger Processes

•Project Schedule

Southern Outer Loop (1993)

• Project from 1993 Thoroughfare Plan

• Described part of this loop as the “Southern Bridge” – an extension from Independence Blvd. northward to Eagle Island to interchange with US 74/76

1993 Thoroughfare Plan

Greater Wilmington Urban Area Transportation Plan (1999-2025)

• Project described as “Southern Bridge” in Greater Wilmington Urban Area Transportation Plan 1999-2025

• Revised description to have western terminus at existing US 17 and proposed Wilmington Bypass (I-140) interchange

• 2025 Plan removed “Southern Outer Loop” project completely

Greater Wilmington Urban Area Transportation Plan (1999-2025)

2030 Long Range Transportation Plan (2005)

• Included in WMPO Long Range Transportation Plan (2030) as “Cape Fear Skyway”

Described as a project that extends east from US 17 at the proposed I-140 (Wilmington Bypass) interchange, across the Cape Fear River, to Independence Boulevard at US 421.

• Included in the Strategic Highway Corridor Initiative and the NC Intrastate System

2030 Transportation Plan

Metropolitan Transportation Plans

Additional Project History/Information

• Feasibility Study in 2003 by NCDOT

• Agency Scoping Meeting – January 2006

• Citizen’s Informational Workshops – April 2006

• Project was included in NCDOT’s 2009-2015 STIP

• Continued work on the project

• Partial Funding in Draft 2020-2029 STIP

Merger Process

Merger is a process to streamline the project development and permitting processes, agreed to by the USACE, NCDENR (DWQ, DCM), FHWA and NCDOT and supported by other stakeholder agencies and local units of government.

Merger TeamFHWA, USACE, NCDOT and NCDENR are the primary signatories for the Merger Process agreement and are also known as the process owners or sponsors.

The partnering agencies are as follows: • U. S. Environmental Protection Agency;

• U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service;

• National Marine Fisheries Service;

• N. C. Wildlife Resources Commission;

• N. C. Department of Cultural Resources;

• U. S. Coast Guard,

• U. S. Forest Service;

• Tennessee Valley Authority;

• National Park Service;

• Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO's); and

• the Eastern Band of Cherokee Nation

Merger Process

Concurrence Point 1: Purpose and Need and Study

Area Defined

Concurrence Point 2: Detailed Study

Alternatives Carried Forward

(DSA)

Concurrence Point 2A: Bridging

Decisions and Alignment Review

Concurrence Point 3:

LEDPA/Preferred Alternative Selection

Concurrence Point 4A: Avoidance and

Minimization

Concurrence Point 4B: 30 Percent

Hydraulic Review

Concurrence Point 4C: Permit

Drawings Review

Purpose and NeedThe purpose of the project is to:

• Improve traffic flow and enhance freight movements beginning in the vicinity of US 17 and future I-140 in Brunswick County across the Cape Fear River to US 421 near the Port of Wilmington in New Hanover County.

Secondary benefits of the project would be to meet goals of Strategic Highway Corridor, NC Intrastate System, and WMPO LRTP, and provide reduced hurricane evacuation time.

Purpose and NeedThe need for the project includes:

• Traffic Capacity Deficiencies

• Access to Port of Wilmington

High Level Screening Analysis

Concurrence Point 2A

Alternatives under Consideration (2019)

MPO Board Supported MA and/or NA as Preferred Alternatives (2017)

Environmental Review/Documentation

Project Timeline

NCDOT Contact Information for the Cape Fear Crossing Project

Questions?

If you would like additional information please contact:

Mike KozloskyExecutive Director

Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization

(910) 341-3258

mike.kozlosky@wilmingtonnc.gov

or visitwww.wmpo.org