Manatee County and Bradenton Beach are getting their bucks in a row for the construction of a ferry staging area near the Historic Bridge Street Pier.
The Manatee County Board of County Commissioners approved a motion funding a boardwalk project with tourist development taxes by a unanimous 7-0 vote Oct. 10.
Commissioners approved the $325,000 project in their consent agenda. There was no discussion on the project.
The project involves building a boardwalk connecting the Historic Bridge Street Pier to the bayfront dinghy docks adjacent to the Bridgetender Inn & Dockside Bar, 135 Bridge St., and will include a pocket park, a pergola and a deck with tables.
The community redevelopment agency, which oversees projects in the commercial district, is working in collaboration with the county on the boardwalk, which will serve as the staging area for guests to await the ferry that is expected to launch this year.
The county-funded ferry will include stops in downtown Bradenton, the floating dock at the pier and the Coquina South boat ramp in Bradenton Beach and the Anna Maria City Pier.
With the county commission’s approval, the boardwalk project is funded 100% with tourist development taxes.
Duncan Seawall of Sarasota is contracted to do the work.
Mayor John Chappie spoke to The Islander on Oct. 11 about the schedule for the project.
“As far as a timeline for this, we are still working out the dates for our contractor,” Chappie said. “There was extra funds that would be needed if we accelerated the construction but we felt that it was not in the best interest to do that. It would be nice to get things done sooner but it was a substantial amount of money to accelerate the project. We are not going to be wasteful of tax dollars. We have a fiduciary responsibility.”
Chappie said he’s hopeful the project will be completed by the end of January 2024.