One westbound lane of Grove Street has been closed to make room for the equipment, a shore unit, to stabilize the crumbling dirt walls of a 30-foot ravine so workers can reach the remains at the bottom.

A homeless man called police just after 8 a.m. to report a strong odor under the bridge over the Cape Fear River.

The man, who police said lives in a camp with other homeless people under the bridge, told police he thought it might be his wife, whom he was supposed to meet near the bridge this morning.

Firefighters tried but could not  reach the body from the bridge while a search and rescue boat from the Sheriff’s Office approached from the river.