And the award for “Least Controversial Island Bridge Project” goes to….
In February, the Florida Department of Transportation announced an upcoming “hybrid” meeting to kick off its project development and environment study of alternatives for the Longboat Pass Bridge.
The drawbridge, built in 1957, connects Longboat Key to Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island.
Previous PD&E studies resulted in recommendations for 65-foot-clearance fixed-span alternatives for the Anna Maria Island and Cortez drawbridges, which also were built in the late 1950s, and sparked controversy. The planned Cortez megabridge is facing a challenge in federal court.
But municipal leaders are taking the Longboat Pass Bridge news in stride.
“With all the traffic issues we have in the area, the Longboat Pass Bridge has not been a point of contention at all,” Longboat Key Mayor Ken Schneier said. “We’re happy to listen and see if there are ideas about things that could be done differently.”
“The DOT will probably go with a fixed-span bridge; I’m sure that’s what they want,” Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said. “There’s a lot of room down there. I don’t see where it makes that much difference to our residents or visitors.”
In 2019, the DOT signaled its intention to conduct a PD&E for the bridge and, due to recent repairs, Schneier said the timing of the kickoff meeting is logical.
“Last year, we went through a sort of a refurbishment of that bridge for several million dollars to give it another 10 years of life or so,” Schneier said. “So it’s not surprising that that was followed up by the beginning of setting in place plans for what to do at the end of that 10-year period.”
A PD&E study is the first phase of the DOT’s highway development process.
During the study, feasible alternatives to existing structures are evaluated based on environmental, engineering and socioeconomic conditions, safety needs and public input.
The process results in either a “build” or “no-build” alternative, in which the existing structure is maintained instead of being replaced. If a “build” alternative is selected, the DOT moves into the next development phase: design.
The hybrid meeting includes online and in-person components.
Meeting materials will be available for review and comment on the project website at www.swflroads.com/sr789/longboatkey, from Tuesday, March 16, to Friday, April 2.
The in-person meeting is 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, at the Harbourside Ballroom, 3000 Harbourside Ballroom, Longboat Key.
According to the DOT, property owners located a minimum of 300 feet on either side of the roadway within the project limits, as well as additional surrounding areas, will receive notice before the meeting.
According to the project website, kickoff meeting items typically include project justification, alternative design concepts already under review, a project schedule and a request for public comments.
Later in the process, two additional public meetings will be held before an alternative is chosen.
At the alternatives public meeting, the impacts, including the costs of “build” alternatives will be compared to the “no-build” option.
Then a formal public hearing will be held to give property owners and other interested parties a final chance to weigh in on the study’s results.
The DOT anticipates finishing the PD&E study in August 2023.