Brunswick Today Newsletter: Bridge closure part two and a new shopping option in Leland

Jamey Cross, Wilmington StarNews
Updated ·2 min read
Traffic travels over the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The westbound lanes will close Monday night for the next step of the bridge preservation project. The westbound lanes are expected to reopen to traffic ahead of Memorial Day weekend.
Traffic travels over the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge on Wednesday, March 27, 2024. The westbound lanes will close Monday night for the next step of the bridge preservation project. The westbound lanes are expected to reopen to traffic ahead of Memorial Day weekend.

Hello and welcome to the Brunswick Today newsletter brought to you by me, StarNews reporter Jamey Cross.

When the work on the eastbound lanes of the Cape Fear Memorial Bridge concluded ahead of schedule late last month, I didn't know how nice it would be to have the bridge return to pre-construction conditions for a few days. I live in downtown Wilmington, and the removal of the barricades on Third Street was a welcomed breath of normalcy.

While it's been nice to have a return to normal traffic patterns, it will unfortunately be short lived. The westbound lanes of the bridge are set to close Monday evening, meaning the dreaded barricades on Third Street will return and traffic patterns around town will be altered for another nearly two months.

N.C. Department of Transportation officials said the project should conclude ahead of Memorial Day weekend, and I'm counting down the days. Here's the latest on the preservation project, its timeline and what traffic impacts to expect during this final phase.

Thanks for starting your week with us. Here's the latest in Brunswick County news.

Here we grow again

Southport's newest fast-food restaurant has been highly anticipated for months and has finally opened its doors. The city's Cook Out sits on the former Pizza Hut site in the River Run Shopping Center between Southport and Oak Island. Here's the latest.

In more commercial development news, a Leland mother-daughter duo are preparing to open a women's clothing boutique in Brunswick Forest this month. The family isn't new to the business scene in the area, and they hope the boutique can address a concern shared by many Leland residents. Here's their story.

On the agenda

Plans to expand a hotel in Oak Island have been slowing working toward approval after the town's council expressed concerns that the expansion didn't quite fit in with the other beachfront properties would be near. After pushing the owner's hearing once again, the town council will consider the project at its April 9 meeting.

Here's what to know ahead of Tuesday's meeting.

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This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick Today Newsletter