DOT forum for Cortez Bridge draws questions, comments

February 7, 2023 | Be the first to comment

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Elizabeth Shore, owner of Bunny and Pirates Bazaar, 12404 Cortez Road W., Cortez, listens to Doug Hershey of the Florida Department of Transportation talk about how the new bridge might impact her business. “I understand that things change and the area is developing and we have to change with it,” she said. “My main concern is how is it going to affect my business and I felt really good to hear that they were doing their best to keep people as intact as they could while they are doing what they need to do for the area. You just have to grow with the times.” Islander Photo: Robert Anderson
Randy White, a former Bradenton Beach commissioner, examines the DOT’s plan for a new Cortez Bridge during a Jan. 31 forum at Kirkwood Presbyterian Church, 6101 Cortez Road W. White, who owns properties near the foot of the proposed ramp in Bradenton Beach, expressed concern about the retention ponds that would abut his property. “I would’ve rather seen, for Cortez’s sake, the drawbridge because it doesn’t have the ramp or the runway and it wouldn’t have had an impact on Cortez as much,” White said. “I think Cortez is seeing more of an impact.”
the Florida department of transportation released maps, designs, videos and other materials in late January for the planned fi xed span bridge on cortez road connecting bradenton beach and cortez. to see the plans and comment online, go to cortezbridge. com. islander courtesy image

The Florida Department of Transportation forum on the design of a new Cortez Bridge Jan. 31 drew business owners, local officials and some curious people to Kirkwood Presbyterian Church in Bradenton.

At the forum — as well as online — the DOT showed its latest renderings for a planned 65-foot bridge to replace the drawbridge connecting Cortez and Bradenton Beach.

Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, Republican-District 3, hosted the event.

“FDOT is committed to the project,” he said. “The project is going to happen. At this point, we need to have all the influence we can over the design, the look of the bridge, as well as the construction process. I have communicated very clearly to FDOT that the community needs the bridge to be closed for the shortest duration possible and I have been assured by FDOT that that is a goal of theirs.”

The project includes the bridge and roadway approaches from Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach to 123rd Street West in Cortez. The work will span just under a mile of roadway.

The DOT maintains a high bridge will allow greater clearance for large vessels and require less maintenance due to the lack of moving parts typical of a bascule bridge.

The new design also features a shoulder for immobilized vehicles to alleviate traffic jams caused by crashes or mechanical breakdowns. The current 35-foot bridge is a Dutch-style counterweight-assisted drawbridge with no shoulder.

Construction could begin in late 2025.

People at the meeting asked about design details and raised questions about the impact of construction and the structure on nearby properties.

Meanwhile, a group challenging the DOT’s decision to build a high bridge — Joe McClash, Linda Molto, Joe Kane and Jane von Hahmann — lost a round in federal court to the DOT but has an appeal due this month.

To learn more about the Cortez Bridge project go to cortezbridge.com.

— Robert Anderson

 

New Cortez Bridge timeline

  • Submit Phase 3 design plans, summer 2023;
  • Submit final design plans, spring 2025;
  • Award construction contract, summer 2025;
  • Construction begins, late 2025 or early 2026.

Source: DOT

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