Bradenton Beach officials are reviewing design elements from the Florida Department of Transportation for a new high-clearance bridge on Cortez Road.
Mayor John Chappie on March 7 walked commissioners through updates from the DOT during a commission meeting at city hall.
Chappie said he and public works director Tom Woodard had joined meetings with Manatee County and DOT officials to review design elements.
Chappie said water and sewer relocation had been discussed with the county and a DOT agreement for an easement from Bridgeport condominiums on the north side of Cortez Road was close to completion.
The easement would allow sidewalks on the north side of the bridge to expand to 10 feet wide and extend past the Bridgeport condos under the Cortez Bridge.
Chappie and commissioners also discussed a 14-foot-high wall along the south side of the bridge near the intersection of Gulf Drive and Cortez Road.
“The barrier is needed according to the noise studies that they did on the south side,” Chappie said, referring to the DOT. He said property owners would decide whether the wall is necessary at their properties.
He also addressed a maintenance contract for pedestrian lighting and railings.
“Manatee County currently has the maintenance agreement with DOT for the upkeep for the lighting and railing,” Chappie said. “If we stay with the regular DOT lighting and railing, then the county would continue with that agreement.”
However, should the city favor decorative railing and lighting for the bridge, the county would decline maintenance responsibility.
Commissioners said they favored standard railings and lighting.
“I think it shows that we are fiscally responsible and we are not going to take on a debt unless we absolutely have to,” Chappie said.
The DOT plans to begin construction of the 65-foot-clearance bridge, estimated to cost $76,998,790, as early as 2026.
The current bridge is a bascule bridge with a 17-foot clearance. The DOT maintains the new bridge will allow greater clearance for vessels and require less maintenance due to a lack of moving parts.
A group challenging the new bridge took issue with the larger footprint and the impact it might have on the flood plain.
The challengers — Joe McClash, Jane von Hahmann, Linda Molto and Joe Kane — propose a 35-foot drawbridge, which they said would not require retaining walls and would open less for boats than the current bridge.
Von Hahmann and Molto are Cortez residents and both von Hahmann and McClash served on the county commission.
Did you know?
The DOT formed a committee consisting of representatives from Cortez and Bradenton Beach to provide input on bridge aesthetics.
Members included Joe Adorna, Mike Bazzy, Karen Bell, Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie, David Galuska, Connie Morrow, Ann Marie Nichols, Joe Rogers, Jeff Vey, Gloria Weir and Bobby Woodsen.
BAC members recommended an enhanced multi-column pier with a waterline footing, substructure lighting on the exterior of the pier columns and four overlooks on either side of the main channel.