Wrightsville Avenue Improvements

  • Project typeSidewalks and Roundabout
  • Project valueConstruction Contract Amount of $6,033,187.04
  • Project scheduleConstruction began fall 2025
  • Contractor nameChatham Construction
Crews begin pouring concrete for the Wrightsville Avenue sidewalk project

 

Overview

Work began in fall 2025 on a major project to improve connectivity, safety, and access along Wrightsville Avenue between Independence Boulevard and Hawthorne Drive. The project will close all remaining sidewalk gaps along the 2.6-mile corridor, creating a continuous, ADA-accessible route for walkers, cyclists, and transit riders. The $6.03 million project, built by Chatham Construction on behalf of the City of Wilmington, reflects strong coordination with NCDOT, utility partners, and property owners.

A complete tree survey has been conducted to save healthy trees and minimize tree removals to the extent possible. The following priorities have guided the planning and design:

  • Provide safe pedestrian connections.
  • Minimize right-of-way acquisition.
  • Minimize impacts to existing utilities.
  • Avoid and preserve existing trees to the extent possible.

View a presentation to City Council from May 2020 about tree preservation efforts on this project here.

As part of the Wrightsville Avenue sidewalk project, the City of Wilmington is using flexible pervious pavement, a durable and environmentally friendly material that allows sidewalks to coexist with trees. This approach helps preserve existing trees rather than remove them for new development, maintaining the character of established streetscapes.

This type of pavement, which will be used in 17 locations throughout the project, can already be seen throughout the downtown area in many of the City’s tree wells, where it has replaced traditional iron grates. Flexible pervious pavement allows trees to grow naturally without damaging surrounding sidewalks, while also letting rainwater pass through to reach the roots below. The surface is highly porous, which helps recharge groundwater through natural infiltration and supports healthier tree growth by allowing air and water to move freely through the soil.

By incorporating flexible pervious pavement into new projects, the City continues to invest in sustainable infrastructure that protects our urban tree canopy while improving stormwater resilience.

Map of Wrightsville Avenue improvements project(PDF, 2MB)

Timeline

  • Construction began in fall 2025.
  • Project duration estimated to take 15 months and be completed by 2027.

Project Benefits

  • The roundabout will improve traffic flow along Wrightsville where it backs up just east of College Road.
  • The sidewalks will provide safe pedestrian connections between multiple neighborhoods, shopping areas, UNCW, the Cross-City Trail, and the River-to-Sea bike route.
  • Overall, the project will help provide safe pedestrian/bike connections between multiple neighborhoods, Cape Fear Hospital, shopping areas, UNCW, the Cross-City Trail, and the River-to-Sea bike route
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