Wilmington council urges NCDOT to weigh traffic impacts before building Eastwood overpass amid simultaneous bridge work
June 02, 2026 | Wilmington, New Hanover County, North Carolina
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Wilmington — Residents and business owners packed the council chamber to press the City Council to ask the North Carolina Department of Transportation to reconsider the timing of a planned Eastwood Road overpass (U‑5710) while Riceville Beach bridge repairs proceed.
Speakers at the public information segment told the council the two projects running at once would create multi‑year traffic disruptions and could inflict lasting economic damage on businesses in the Eastwood corridor. Nancy Patch, who gave her address as 1516 Landly Drive, said that changes to the project since its 2018 approval — including budget increases and schedule splits — should have triggered new public engagement under DOT rules and NEPA procedures and requested the council ask DOT for a State Transportation Improvement Program amendment.
"They run roughshod over the citizens you serve by ignoring our outcry and barreling ahead," Patch said, urging a postponement until the bridge work is completed.
Peter Loftess, who said he reviewed two decades of DOT traffic data, told council the traffic projections underpinning the flyover have not materialized and that 10 years of crash data showed roughly 54 accidents at the intersection in question. Loftess recommended lower‑cost actions — improved enforcement of existing traffic laws, better use of the existing Dale Drive extension and pilot signal‑timing technologies — before committing to an $80 million structure.
Business owners and nearby residents repeated those concerns. James De Haven said he had heard owners say they would terminate leases or close if construction begins while bridge work is underway, warning of lost sales and occupancy tax revenue.
Mayor Bill Sappa moved R1 to the head of the agenda to allow the many speakers in attendance to hear council debate. Council members discussed the community concerns, DOT engagement and the need for clearer detour plans during construction. After discussion, council voted to approve the resolution urging DOT to consider cumulative traffic impacts and to seek additional public engagement; the vote was unanimous.
The resolution asks DOT to review sequencing and mitigation options and reflects residents' requests for public hearings and transparency when project scope or timing changes. Council members said they had contacted state officials and encouraged residents to continue contacting their state representatives and DOT staff.
Next steps: The resolution is a formal request from Wilmington to NCDOT; council said staff will continue outreach to state officials and report back on any DOT response or schedule changes.
Speakers at the public information segment told the council the two projects running at once would create multi‑year traffic disruptions and could inflict lasting economic damage on businesses in the Eastwood corridor. Nancy Patch, who gave her address as 1516 Landly Drive, said that changes to the project since its 2018 approval — including budget increases and schedule splits — should have triggered new public engagement under DOT rules and NEPA procedures and requested the council ask DOT for a State Transportation Improvement Program amendment.
"They run roughshod over the citizens you serve by ignoring our outcry and barreling ahead," Patch said, urging a postponement until the bridge work is completed.
Peter Loftess, who said he reviewed two decades of DOT traffic data, told council the traffic projections underpinning the flyover have not materialized and that 10 years of crash data showed roughly 54 accidents at the intersection in question. Loftess recommended lower‑cost actions — improved enforcement of existing traffic laws, better use of the existing Dale Drive extension and pilot signal‑timing technologies — before committing to an $80 million structure.
Business owners and nearby residents repeated those concerns. James De Haven said he had heard owners say they would terminate leases or close if construction begins while bridge work is underway, warning of lost sales and occupancy tax revenue.
Mayor Bill Sappa moved R1 to the head of the agenda to allow the many speakers in attendance to hear council debate. Council members discussed the community concerns, DOT engagement and the need for clearer detour plans during construction. After discussion, council voted to approve the resolution urging DOT to consider cumulative traffic impacts and to seek additional public engagement; the vote was unanimous.
The resolution asks DOT to review sequencing and mitigation options and reflects residents' requests for public hearings and transparency when project scope or timing changes. Council members said they had contacted state officials and encouraged residents to continue contacting their state representatives and DOT staff.
Next steps: The resolution is a formal request from Wilmington to NCDOT; council said staff will continue outreach to state officials and report back on any DOT response or schedule changes.
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