While other people are contemplating their Halloween decorations, the Anna Maria Island Bridge aesthetics committee is considering how to decorate the future high-span replacement bridge.
The committee met Sept. 28 at the Bradenton Public Works facility, 1411 Ninth Street W., to get a first look at color and impression options for the proposed bridge connecting Perico Island to Holmes Beach.
Impressions, designs stamped into concrete, were discussed for the bridge piers and retaining walls leading up to the bridge on the east and west sides.
Committee members did away with some designs, including palm fronds and a sunset shape.
“I personally would never vote for the sun as the impression on the bridge,” committee member Jim McClellen said, representing Bradenton.
“I want it to be really unique to us,” said Anna Maria representative Dean Jones. He said the sunset impression would bring to mind the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge that links Manatee and Pinellas counties. Jones suggested imprinting the walls with egrets flying over grass and turtles on the bridge piers.
Committee members asked Florida Department of Transportation representatives to add a manatee impression to their choices and amend the dolphin selection to be more artistic. A combined choice of egrets flying over grass with sea turtles and scallop shells also will be available to committee members at the October meeting.
Once completed, the walls are estimated to be 20 feet tall at the highest point and 1,600 feet long, wrapping under the bridge on both sides.
Scott Korpi of American Consulting Professionals estimated the cost of adding impressions to the bridge piers and walls would be between $200,000-$400,000, depending on which impressions are chosen by the committee.
Committee members also began considering what color, if any, to make the bridge. Korpi said the color used for the bridge would be added into the concrete as it’s poured, as opposed to a coat of paint, which would chip and require more maintenance.
Color options included gray, sand, coral and salmon.
“The gray is a very industrial color,” committee member Ingrid McClellan said, representing Keep Manatee Beautiful. “At least the sand has a little something.”
“I kind of like the gray because it’s calming,” said Nancy Deal, representing the group Save Anna Maria Inc.
Committee members asked to add a blue option and voted to remove the salmon color from consideration.
“I would be interested to see a blue color,” McClellan said. “The bridge might disappear.”
Ryan Forrestel of American Consulting Professionals told committee members lighting under the bridge had been removed from consideration.
Forrestel said Manatee County would not agree to maintain under-bridge lighting and it was eliminated. Roadway lighting across the bridge also was removed from consideration after a DOT study showed it wasn’t justified.
While not necessary from an engineering perspective, Forrestel said committee members should consider adding pedestrian lights, which would be built into the walls on both sides of pedestrian walkways that cross the bridge.
Before lights could be installed, a maintenance agreement would have to be signed between the DOT and the local agencies — Holmes Beach, Manatee County or Bradenton.
Deal said she would like to consult Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring before any decisions are reached regarding lights on or under the bridge by the committee.
Committee members will next meet at 10 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, at Bradenton Public Works, 1411 Ninth Street W., to make recommendations to the DOT on color, impressions and lighting.