Here are 7 major projects to watch in Brunswick County for 2024
Housing developments, grocery stores and new restaurants are under construction across Brunswick County.
One of the fastest-growing counties in the nation, Brunswick has experienced significant growth over the last two decades. This growth coupled with storms like hurricanes Florence and Isaias has left the county in need of significant infrastructure upgrades.
Here are seven major infrastructure projects to watch in 2024.
N.C. 211 widening
While this project has been on the radar for several years, it is now well underway. The work consists of widening a 7.2-mile stretch of roadway from two to four lanes beginning at Midway Road and ending at the N.C. 87 intersection in Southport.
Much of the work that has been completed so far has included permitting, the relocation of water and sewer lines, grading and hauling dirt for the overpasses —one of which will be at the Midway Road intersection and the other at the Long Beach Road intersection.
The project, which was initially slated for completion in the Fall of 2026 has now been pushed to summer of 2027. Staff at NCDOT say a permitting delay caused the completion date to be extended.
Boiling Spring Lakes dams
Though it took several years to get financing in place so work could begin, the Boiling Spring Lakes dam project is now in progress. Excavation and demolition of the existing spillway was ongoing in early December, and this was necessary before crews could begin construction of the new spillway.
Crews were also conducting pre-drilling ahead of the cut-off wall installation and installing dewatering wells to take the moisture out of the site to ensure work can be performed in the area. The entire city dams project is expected to cost around $52 million and will be ongoing for the next couple of years.
Brunswick County sewer plant expansion
The Mulberry Branch Water Reclamation Facility will be a new plant located near the existing Shallotte Wastewater Treatment Plant, which was acquired by Brunswick County, on property owned by the county. The Mulberry Branch facility will have 750,000 gallons of capacity, and it will accommodate the City of Southport.
In an email, Brunswick County spokeswoman Meagan Kascsak explained the contract for the plant was awarded to Harper General Contractors on October 16, 2023. Kascsak said the notice to proceed on the contract was issued on December 16, 2023, and the contract length is 730 days.
Once completed, the Mulberry Branch facility will join the West Brunswick Regional Water Reclamation Facility, having a total capacity of 7.25 million gallons per day. A 3-million-gallon-per-day expansion project is planned to begin at the facility in 2028.
Calabash River Bridge replacement
Just after Labor Day this year, crews began work on a decades-old bridge in Calabash to prepare for its replacement.
The Beach Drive SW bridge spans the Calabash River and was built in 1975. The deficiencies of the 48-year-old structure became noticeable to officials over the past several years as its annual maintenance costs continued to increase.
Wilmington-based S&C Construction, LLC, was awarded a nearly $9.6 million contract to demolish the structure and build a new, bigger bridge in its place. The new bridge will be twice as long and significantly wider than the original, measuring 578 feet long and 45 feet wide. The extra width will allow space for a 10-foot multi-use path and wider driving lanes.
The NCDOT predicted construction would take roughly 18 months, so the bridge will likely remain closed to motorists through 2024. Drivers are detoured to Old Georgetown Road, Season Road, Sunset Boulevard and Shoreline Drive while construction is ongoing.
N.C. 133 widening
Major upgrades to N.C. 133 in Belville are underway and expected to be complete by summer 2024.
A quarter-mile stretch of the well-traveled highway near Belville Town Hall just past Old River Road is being widened, resurfaced and modernized as part of the $4.8 million project, NCDOT officials said.
A multi-use path will also be constructed on the west side of the road to improve pedestrian and bicycle travel.
Epsilon manufacturing facility
In October, county and state officials announced India-based electric vehicle battery manufacturer Epsilon Advanced Materials would build a 1.5-million-square-foot manufacturing facility in Brunswick County.
More: 6 things to know about the Indian manufacturer bringing hundreds of jobs to Brunswick
The facility is expected to begin construction in the Mid-Atlantic Industrial Rail Park along U.S. 74 in 2024. Epsilon officials said the plant will begin production by 2026. Once fully operational around 2030, the plant will create 500 jobs for the greater Wilmington area.
The company supplies materials to power electronic vehicles, producing “high-quality battery materials,” according to its website.
This facility will be Epsilon’s first in the United States. Epsilon is headquartered in Mumbai, India.
Shoreline stabilization in Southport
Improvements to Southport’s waterfront could be underway in 2024. Shoreline stabilization has been on city officials’ minds for nearly a decade and the city is now working to design a new waterfront stabilization plan.
Shoreline erosion in the city is threatening sidewalks, roads, and -- if nothing is done to address it -- homes could also be impacted.
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Earlier this year, the city sought engineering and environmental services for the project. In a public request for qualifications, the city said the project consisted of the restoration and stabilization of roughly 4,000 feet of city shoreline.
In 2022, the city received $5 million in state funding for waterfront stabilization.
Renee Spencer and Jamey Cross cover Brunswick County for the StarNews. Reach them at rspencer@gannett.com and jbcross@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Brunswick County, NC projects to watch in 2024
