The Cape Fear Skyway is a proposed limited access toll road

Toll road

A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...

 and bridge

Toll bridge

A toll bridge is a bridge over which traffic may pass upon payment of a toll, or fee.- History :The practice of collecting tolls on bridges probably harks back to the days of ferry crossings where people paid a fee to be ferried across stretches of water. As boats became impractical to carry large...

 to be built in North Carolina

North Carolina

North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...

, United States, that will pass through portions of New Hanover

New Hanover County, North Carolina

-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 160,307 people, 68,183 households, and 41,591 families residing in the county. The population density was 806 people per square mile . There were 79,616 housing units at an average density of 400 per square mile...

 and Brunswick

Brunswick County, North Carolina

-External links:*******....

 counties.

Description

The proposed 9.5 miles (15.3 km) route would connect the south-end of Wilmington

Wilmington, North Carolina

Wilmington is a port city in and is the county seat of New Hanover County, North Carolina, United States. The population is 106,476 according to the 2010 Census, making it the eighth most populous city in the state of North Carolina...

 to Brunswick County

Brunswick County, North Carolina

-External links:*******....

, by crossing over the Cape Fear River

Cape Fear River

The Cape Fear River is a long blackwater river in east central North Carolina in the United States. It flows into the Atlantic Ocean near Cape Fear, from which it takes its name. The overall water quality of the river is continuously measured and monitored by and conducted by the , , and the...

. It will have a clearance of 68.5 m (224.7 ft) to allow large tankers

Tanker (ship)

A tanker is a ship designed to transport liquids in bulk. Major types of tankship include the oil tanker, the chemical tanker, and the liquefied natural gas carrier.-Background:...

 or cruise ship

Cruise ship

A cruise ship or cruise liner is a passenger ship used for pleasure voyages, where the voyage itself and the ship's amenities are part of the experience, as well as the different destinations along the way...

s to pass underneath and will most likely be a cable-stayed bridge

Cable-stayed bridge

A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....

; if it is, it will be one of the largest in the world. On the deck of the bridge, it will support a maximum of 6 lanes across. The road extension will begin at Independence Blvd and extend to the proposed southern extension of Interstate 140

Interstate 140 (North Carolina)

Interstate 140 is a part of the Interstate Highway System in the US state of North Carolina. It is a spur route that will run for upon its completion within both New Hanover and Brunswick Counties in serving as a bypass of Wilmington...

. It is a $555 million to $1.18 billion USD project (final costs to be determined during the design phase, according to the North Carolina Turnpike Authority

North Carolina Turnpike Authority

The North Carolina Turnpike Authority was created in 2002 as a board with the authority to study, plan, develop and undertake preliminary design work for toll roads and toll bridges in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The NCTA has the power to design, establish, purchase, construct, operate, and...

) that will begin sometime after 2015.