County awards Holly Shelter Business Park construction contract and agrees to rename it I‑40 Coastal Commerce Park

New Hanover County commissioners on July 13 approved awarding the construction contract for initial public infrastructure at Holly Shelter Business Park to Carolina Civil Works, the lowest responsive bidder, and approved a resolution renaming the project I‑40 Coastal Commerce Park.

County Engineer Akina Akinola told the board the project covers roughly 320 acres off Holly Shelter Road and includes a pump station, about 2,700 and 750 linear feet of divided roadway within the park, an 800‑foot right‑turn lane on Holly Shelter Road, and associated water, sewer, drainage, grading, paving and utility work. Staff said bids were opened June 9 and six responses were received; Carolina Civil Works submitted the certified low responsive bid within the available construction budget.

A staff representative said the board approved a development agreement in May 2023 with Seabury Land and Property Company, that CIPRI conveyed about 52 acres to the county and granted an option to purchase roughly 200 additional acres, and that the county's role is constructing backbone infrastructure to ready the site for private development.

During discussion commissioners asked about traffic controls and phasing; staff said that a traffic impact analysis has been approved and that a signalized intersection at the park entrance is planned in a later phase as parcels are developed. Commissioners also asked that the county's name be included on park signage; staff said they would explore options with the property owner and Wilmington Business Development.

A motion to award the construction contract and approve the renaming resolution passed by voice vote unanimously.