After a month underwater, the water main that crashed into the bay from the underside of the Anna Maria Island Bridge has resurfaced.
Bradenton-based Woodruff & Sons finished removing the fallen pipeline July 19 from Anna Maria Sound, according to Manatee County information outreach manager Bill Logan.
About 1,000 feet of the 16-inch water main — which was installed in 1982 — broke off and fell June 19 after the failure of hangers holding it along the west end of the bridge.
Woodruff & Sons began repair work June 26 and finished a temporary pipeline across the sidewalk on the south side of the bridge by June 30.
The fallen water main remained in Anna Maria Sound for another couple of weeks.
Logan wrote in a July 21 email to The Islander that following the pipeline’s retrieval, crews were working on disconnecting the pipe on land so they could haul it away the week of July 24. Then, they will restore any disturbed areas with sod.
A second phase of work will involve securing new hangers along the bridge to hold the new main, which will need to be permanently repositioned. The work will require lane closures on the bridge.
Logan wrote that the contractor is waiting for materials to complete the work and said they were “likely a month out.”
— Ryan Paice
