A BRIDGE TO THE FUTURE
The new gateway to Topsail Island is more than a way in and out.
BY CHRISTINE R. GONZALEZ
IT makes for a swift and safe drive from the mainland to Topsail Island, but the Surf City bridge is so much more
than a new road. It’s a scenic path for outdoor enthusiasts and a gateway to an economic boom.
The bridge, completed in early December 2018 — a full nine months ahead of schedule — was designed with
cyclists and pedestrians in mind. There is one auto lane in each direction with ample bicycle shoulders and a
10-foot wide multi-use pedestrian path, protecting walkers from vehicles by a concrete barrier.
“The bridge has become a popular walking path, with the largest hill around,” says Hampstead resident Deborah
Farmer. “Many people walk it at sunset or sunrise to catch the magnificent views of the sun shining on the water.”
The bridge’s design is aesthetically pleasing. Better still are the views from it. It sits 65 feet above the sound and is
nearly a mile long.
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WBM june 2020