State transportation officials have rejected a private firm’s proposal to replace the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge and charge drivers a toll of up to $2.75 per crossing. However, N.C. Department of Transportation officials are continuing to pursue a publicly delivered toll option.

NCDOT officials evaluated what would have been a public-private partnership (P3) with Delaware-based Delivering Bridges LLC, which submitted an unsolicited proposal to replace the aging bridge in February.

They determined that the scope of the proposed project was not different from what is already programmed in the State Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP), said Trevor Carroll, NCDOT Division 3 engineer, at a meeting of the Wilmington Urban Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (WMPO) board on Wednesday.

Not only was it not materially different, “the terms presented in the proposal were either not allowable or did not create any benefit to NCDOT,” Carroll said.

But Delivering Bridges LLC could get another chance, he said.

“If a P3 delivery method were to be pursued for the project, this proposer would not be precluded from participating in the competitive bid process,” Carroll explained. “The proposer would not automatically be shortlisted, either.”

He added, “While NCDOT is not moving forward with the unsolicited proposal … we are continuing to work on delivering this bridge as a traditional toll project, contingent upon legislative change.”

The new bridge is expected to cost more than $1 billion, according to a recent estimate. So far, the project is set to receive $85 million in state funding and a $242 million federal award under the Bridge Investment Program.

Residents and representatives from local groups and organizations spoke out against using a toll option during the public comment period at Wednesday’s meeting, with many citing the cost burden of a toll on those traveling to and from Wilmington to work.

“We will continue to support WMPO in evaluating all available funding alternatives to help deliver this project,” Carroll said. “We’ve said it, and we’ve heard it time and time again: We’re going to explore all options. That’s exactly what we did, and that’s the recommendation that’s before you now.”

He said the public will have another chance to comment on the bridge. State officials have signed off on an environmental assessment of the bridge replacement project, which “will be available for the public to review very soon,” Carroll said.

The assessment looked at two design alternatives – a fixed-span 135-foot bridge as one option and a lift bridge, with a 65-foot vertical clearance when lowered and a 135-foot clearance when raised, as another.

The NCDOT is looking at late August or early September to hold public hearings on the matter, one in New Hanover County and one in Brunswick County.

A WMPO board member asked Carroll if a group, for example one organized by a resident of Brunswick Forest who had a representative at Wednesday’s meeting, wants to have Carroll or NCDOT speak to them about the project, could that be accomplished?

“So, what we do want is honest, open engagement and collaboration. We want to be transparent with our process. We have followed all the steps so far,” Carroll said. “Our time frame, you see, is really compressed, so I don’t want to commit that to you right here, right now. I also don’t want to take that off the table. We will have availability during these public hearings. We’ll also receive comments over our website, so that will be available too.”

During his update to the WMPO, Carroll also presented a current project timeline, which is still subject to change, that showed a potential construction start date for the bridge replacement in December 2027.

WMPO officials on Wednesday also heard more details on a programmatic agreement between the Federal Highway Administration, the N.C. State Historic Preservation Officer, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation and NCDOT.

The agreement aims to consider, avoid, minimize and/or mitigate adverse effects to the Wilmington Historic District, which is on the National Register of Historic Places, and USS North Carolina, a National Historic Landmark. The agreement also notes that the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The replacement alternatives will have “adverse” effects on the bridge because it will be removed in both design scenarios, according to agreement documents.

The WMPO can decide to be a consulting party or a concurring party. A consulting party, explained WMPO Executive Director Mike Kozlosky, would not necessarily have a formalized seat at the table. In contrast, a concurring party would sign and be part of the process throughout.

“Federal Highways has asked for any comments on the draft programmatic agreement no later than Aug. 7. The next steps for this would be to determine if the MPO board desires to be a consulting or concurring party. I would recommend that we be a concurring party so that we have a seat at the table. ... I did provide a copy of the draft programmatic agreement. It’s also included as part of the agenda packet, and so I would ask if you have any comments, if you could send those directly to me by the close of business on Aug. 4,” Kozlosky told the board. “And then if there is a desire to sign this agreement, then we would present it to the board once it’s in its final form for approval.

“Right now, it’s just a draft. Federal Highways is accepting comments, and so Abby (Lorenzo, WMPO deputy director) and I both reviewed it. We have some comments that we’re going to send to FHWA for consideration, but I also wanted to get any comments from the board that we could incorporate into our comments as well. And then, if there is a desire to sign this agreement, then we will bring it to you in final form.”