The Florida Department of Transportation won’t rebuild more than one structure at a time but the agency is juggling multiple plans for the trio of drawbridges to AMI.
DOT staff and consultants reviewed the status of projects Nov. 6, during a meeting of the Island Transportation Planning Organization at Anna Maria City Hall.
The ITPO meets a couple of weeks ahead of Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization board meetings, and the regional transportation group’s next meeting is Monday, Nov. 20, in Sarasota.
Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy chairs the ITPO, which also includes Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth and Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie.
At the Nov. 6 meeting, Chappie called in and Holmes Beach Commissioner Dan Diggins subbed for Titsworth.
DOT replacement schedules shared at the meeting indicated the following area bridges are expected to be replaced “due to corrosion:”
- The Cortez Bridge spanning the Intracoastal Waterway and connecting Cortez and Bradenton Beach in late 2025 or early 2026.
The project, which involves replacing the bascule with a fixed, high-level bridge, is in the design phase, which is expected to be completed in mid-2025.
Design, right-of-way acquisition and construction are funded, according to the DOT.
- The Anna Maria Island Bridge spanning the Intracoastal and connecting Perico Island and Holmes Beach via Manatee Avenue in 2029.
The project, which involves replacing the bascule with a fixed high-level bridge, is in the design phase, which is fully funded and expected to be completed in spring 2025.
Construction, also likely to involve two roundabouts on Manatee Avenue in Holmes Beach, is not fully funded.
- The Longboat Pass Bridge spanning Longboat Pass and linking Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach in the 2030s.
A slide for the meeting presentation listed the drawbridge for replacement but the project is in the study phase, with the DOT weighing several options: no rebuild, a new bascule, a higher bascule and a fixed, high-level bridge.
If the fixed bridge is the recommended option in the DOT’s project, development and environmental study, a 78-foot clearance will be needed for navigation.
A tall bridge’s touchdown likely would require changes at Coquina Beach.
“We don’t really have concerns for the touchdown on the south side,” said Patrick Bateman, DOT project manager.
The DOT also shared updates for two other bridge projects:
- The DeSoto Bridge spanning the Manatee River and connecting Bradenton and Palmetto in 2027.
- The Little Ringling Bridge linking Sarasota’s Bird Key and Sarasota Harbor West in 2027.
When construction begins on the Little Ringling Bridge project, Anna Maria Island likely will see increased Longboat Key traffic.
In other matters at the meeting:
- Allison Conner of the DOT said a PD&E study for the Barrier Island Complete Street Improvement project is funded and the review would take about 24 months.
The project — which involves multimodal, safety and drainage improvements — includes the Gulf Drive corridor in Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach but not Anna Maria, as the city opted out.
Conner said people could look for the launch of a newsletter with a timetable early in 2024, followed by informational workshops.
- Chappie said he was interested in how an MPO project on growth and population would look at increases in tourists and decreases in residents.
Residential populations have declined while demands for services have increased, Chappie said.
“It’s not just the island municipalities,” he said. “It’s all along the west coast.”
- Holmes Beach city engineer/public works superintendent Sage Kamiya said the city is seeking letters from the MPO, ITPO and other groups supporting plans for multimodal improvements on Marina and Gulf drives.
The city is pursuing partial funding — tourist development tax dollars — from Manatee County.
“It’s a good project, no doubt about it,” said MPO executive director David Hutchinson.
The next ITPO meeting will be at 2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 8, at Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive, Anna Maria.
Pipeline on AMI bridge sidewalk to remain
Contractors completed work Nov. 1 on the final repairs to establish a temporary water main across the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue.
The main replaces the bridge’s previous pipeline, which collapsed in June due to failed hangers.
That temporary water main will remain for about two years, until it can be replaced with a subaqueous pipeline in advance of the Florida Department of Transportation’s construction of a new bridge, according to Manatee County.
— Ryan Paice
No bridge from the mainland to LBK?