Cortez Bridge staging, delays

Equipment and a crane are staged Sept. 2 near the site for the Cortez Bridge replacement project, with construction of a new high-rise fixed span expected to begin in November, about two months later than previously estimated, according to the Florida Department of Transportation. Manatee County is still working on moving a water main at the site. Initial bridge construction is expected to include pile driving and construction of a temporary trestle. Traffic will shift to a temporary diversion roadway in March 2027 and onto the first portion of the new bridge in July 2028, according to a DOT timeline provided Sept. 2. The new bridge is expected to open to traffic in October 2029, with project completion anticipated in early 2030, the DOT said. Islander Photo: Robert Anderson