Editing Surf City, North Carolina (section)

==Bridges==
[[File:Old swing bridge in Surf City, North Carolina (2010).jpg|thumb|left|The old swing bridge was replaced in December 2018]]
Until late 2018, road access to Surf City was mainly via the Topsail Island Swing Bridge, a failing steel truss swing-span bridge, built in 1954, which crossed the [[Intracoastal Waterway]].<ref>Balfour Beatty, [https://www.balfourbeattyus.com/our-work/project-portfolio/surf-city-bridge-replacement Surf City Bridge Replacement]. Accessed February 15, 2019.</ref> Planning for a replacement bridge began in 2010,<ref>NCDOT, [https://www.ncdot.gov/projects/topsail-island-bridge/Pages/default.aspx Topsail Island Bridge Replacement Project Page]. Accessed February 15, 2019.</ref> with construction beginning in September 2016. It opened in December 2018, a year ahead of schedule.<ref>Bill Walsh, [https://www.starnewsonline.com/news/20181204/surf-city-bridge-opens-ahead-of-schedule Surf City bridge opens ahead of schedule], Star News Online, December 4, 2018. Accessed February 15, 2019.</ref> Costing US$54 million, the {{convert|3800|ft|m}} fixed-span high rise bridge, with a vertical clearance of {{convert|65|ft|m}}, allows the passage of vessels at any time and eases traffic flow to and from the community. The {{convert|50|ft|m}} wide bridge provides two lanes for traffic, shoulder bicycle lanes, and a multi-use path. The unusually wide design is intended to permit three lanes for hurricane evacuations. The contractor was scheduled to remove the old bridge by March 31, 2019. In a letter to residents in January, the Town's mayor, Doug Medlin said, "NCDOT and Balfour Beatty understood the sentimental relationship that the Town of Surf City had for our Swing Bridge. We were given the turn bridge control panel and key as well as the cornerstone from when the bridge was first constructed. These items will be displayed in the new Surf City Town Hall as a historical memorial."<ref>[https://www.surfcitync.gov/DocumentCenter/View/1347/Surf-City-Coastal-Connection-Newsletter January Mayor Message] (PDF), ''Surf City Coastal Connection'' (newsletter), February 2019. Accessed February 15, 2019</ref>