COQUINA BEACH – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One is conducting a Project Development and Environmental Study (PD&E) for the heavily-traveled and often congested SR 789 bridge from North Shore Road to the Coquina Beach Park entrance.
A public meeting was held at the Harbourside Ballroom in Longboat Key on Tuesday, March 16 to begin discussion and present material showcasing multiple options for the potential project.
FDOT officials made it clear that throughout the process they would consider a “no-build” option. If the “build” option were to be the result of the study, the project would move to the design phase, and construction plans would then be prepared.
Key factors that must be evaluated when deciding how, when, or if the project will move forward include safety needs, additional right-of-way, traffic performance, and environmental impacts the project could have on this very eco-sensitive area.
The project process has six main components:
Planning – Identifying local multi-modal goals.
PD&E Study – Documenting the need for the project, developing alternatives to meet needs, and evaluating social, natural, cultural and physical impacts.
Design – Conduct land surveys, prepare construction plans, and identify right-of-way requirements.
Right-of-Way – Acquiring right-of-way and providing relocation assistance.
Construction – Construction of the project, and inspection of construction materials.
Maintenance – Maintaining the facility throughout its design life.
The development and analysis phase of the project will take some time. After all impacts and alternatives are thoroughly analyzed, another tentative public meeting will be held in March 2022 to finalize the recommended alternative, followed by a tentative March 2023 public hearing to finalize engineering and environmental reports. If all goes as planned, Location and Design Concept Acceptance is slated for October 2023.
Funding is not yet secured for any phase of this project. Projected funding has been proposed as a four fiscal year program (2021-2025) beginning with the PD&E phase which is currently ongoing, followed by design, right-of-way acquisition, and construction phases which are currently not funded.
Updated Feb. 8, 2021 at 12:15 p.m. – CORTEZ – A new, high-rise Cortez Bridge is coming and it may be sooner than you think.
Florida Department of Transportation officials confirmed that construction on the bridge is now expected to begin during the FDOT’s 2026 fiscal year, which begins on July 1, 2025, and ends on June 30, 2026.
The existing drawbridge, built in 1956, will be replaced by a fixed-span bridge that provides 65 feet of vertical clearance below it. According to FDOT, the current drawbridge provides 17.5 feet of vertical clearance when the bridge is down.
FDOT announced its plans in 2018 to build a fixed-span bridge instead of rehabbing the existing bridge or building a new drawbridge, which would provide 35 feet of vertical clearance when the bridge is down.
During a Bradenton Beach Commission meeting on Jan. 21, Mayor John Chappie said he had learned the Cortez Bridge replacement project was now included in FDOT’s five-year work program.
“That kind of surprised me. I didn’t think it would happen for another 10 years,” Chappie said.
When contacted by email last week, FDOT Communications Specialist Brian Rick said the bridge construction project will be awarded to a contractor at some point during the second half of 2025, with construction of a new bridge to begin several months later. Rick said construction will start during FDOT’s 2026 fiscal year and funding for the state project is expected to be in place at that time.
He noted the anticipated bridge replacement project cost originally was $66.5 million.
“As a caveat, $66.5 million is the present-day cost, but with inflation, it will be $76 million by 2026,” Rick said in an email.
Rick said FDOT plans to submit its Phase II bridge construction design plans sometime around August.
The bridge replacement timetable was referenced in the presentation that L.K. Nandam, district secretary for District One of the Florida Department of Transportation, provided during the Sarasota Chamber of Commerce’s quarterly State of Community series event on Jan. 27.
Nandam’s virtual presentation also said the Cortez Bridge project would start during FDOT’s 2026 fiscal year. His presentation noted that the Anna Maria Bridge on Manatee Avenue, which is also a drawbridge, is currently slated for replacement between fiscal years 2027 and 2032.
Bridge aesthetics
The Cortez Bridge replacement project was discussed at the FDOT Bridge Aesthetics Committee’s virtual meeting on Jan. 20.
This 2018 FDOT rendering illustrates what the bridge landing area in Bradenton Beach will look like. – FDOT | Submitted
According to a Jan. 28 committee meeting summary prepared by Laura Turner, of Laura Turner Planning Services, “The Florida Department of Transportation has begun design plans for the Cortez Road bridge replacement.”
The Bridge Aesthetics Committee allows local citizens to participate in the design process.
Cortez resident and Bradenton Beach property owner Connie Morrow, Jeff Vey, of the Bridgeport condominiums in Bradenton Beach, and Ann Marie Nicholas, owner of the Room with a Hue retail business in Bradenton Beach, participated in the Jan. 20 committee meeting.
They were joined by Turner, FDOT Transportation Manager Roxann Lake, FDOT staff member Kaylene Johnson, consulting project manager Doug Hershey, and Adrian Moon from the WSP transportation and infrastructure services firm.
Chappie is a committee member but he was unable to attend the recent meeting, as were fellow members Joe Rodgers, Karen Bell, Mike Bazzy and Joe Adoma.
The design and aesthetics of the bridge pillars were discussed during the recent committee meeting. Pillar design options range from two or three thin concrete pillars with simple design lines to thicker pillars that feature brick surfaces and double arches. The meeting summary does not indicate that any final decision was made regarding pillar design.
Continued opposition
FDOT is moving forward with its bridge replacement plans despite continued public opposition and a 2019 legal challenge by former Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash, former Manatee County Commissioner and Cortez resident Jane von Hahmann, Cortez residents Linda Molto and Joe Kane, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, the Cortez Historical Society and the ManaSota-88 organization.
In that 2019 challenge, the fixed-span opponents filed a petition that named FDOT as the respondent. The petition stated that all of the petitioners would have their substantial interests negatively affected by replacing the existing drawbridge with a higher, fixed-span bridge.
This 2018 FDOT rendering includes an auxiliary ramp that provides access to the businesses and residences on and around 127th Street West. – FDOT | Submitted
The petition claimed that the tall bridge would negatively impact the maritime culture and fishing industry in the historic village of Cortez. It also stated a fixed-span bridge would impact environmental, aesthetic, cultural and natural resources and the use of the navigational waters near the Cortez Bridge for vessels whose masts or superstructures exceed 60 feet.
The petitioners asserted the proposed replacement bridge would negatively impact the quality of life, environment, financial well-being, mobility and preservation of Cortez. They also said a fixed-span bridge would create dangerous intersections at offsetting streets and pedestrian crossing areas, while also increasing noise, dividing the community with a wall-like structure and changing the overall aesthetics of Cortez.
These and other opponents of the 65-foot vertical clearance bridge have repeatedly expressed support for a new drawbridge that offers 35 feet of vertical clearance.
FDOT dismisses objections
On April 23, 2018, FDOT issued a press release regarding its bridge design decision.
“A fixed bridge is resoundingly the best financial investment for taxpayers. The initial construction cost, including design and construction, saves approximately $23.9 million compared to a new mid-level drawbridge. Over the 75-year life of the bridge, the fixed bridge also saves approximately $11.2 million in operating and maintenance costs compared to the drawbridge.
The Cortez Bridge drawbridge was built in 1956. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The new bridge will be designed and constructed to modern standards that will improve the safety of the bridge and will include enhanced pedestrian and bicycle features, including two 10-foot sidewalks separated from the roadway by a traffic barrier which will enhance safety and overall recreational opportunities,” according to the press release.
In 2018 FDOT released a series of renderings that illustrated what the new bridge and bridge approach areas were expected to look like. One rendering showed an auxiliary ramp coming off of Cortez Road that would provide access to the businesses and residences on and around 127th Street West, including Tide Tables, Annie’s Back & Tackle, the Seafood Shack and more.
Updated Feb. 5, 2021 at 5:21 p.m. – CORTEZ – Construction on a new, 65-foot-tall fixed span Cortez Bridge is now expected to begin during the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) 2026-27 fiscal year.
FDOT’s fiscal year 2026-27 begins on July 1, 2025 and ends on June 30, 2026.
During the Jan. 21 Bradenton Beach Commission meeting, Mayor John Chappie said that at the previous day’s Island Transportation Planning Organization (ITPO) meeting, an FDOT representative informed ITPO members that FDOT was able to include the Cortez Bridge construction project in its five-year work program.
“That kind of surprised me,” Chappie told the city commission. “I’m going to look further into that because it kind of surprised us. I didn’t think it would happen for another 10 years.”
When contacted by The Sun this week, FDOT spokesperson Brian Rick confirmed Chappie’s statement in an email.
FDOT plans to submit its Phase II bridge construction design plans later this year, in or around August, according to Rick.
Construction should begin in fiscal year 2026, Rick wrote in an email on Tuesday, adding that funding is expected to be available at that time.
In 2018, FDOT provided this illustration that shows what the new Cortez Bridge will look like in the center, and near the Cortez side of the bridge. – FDOT | Submitted
The original anticipated bridge replacement project cost was $66.5 million.
“As a caveat, $66.5 million is the present-day cost, but with inflation, it will be $76 million by 2026,” according to Rick’s email.
Barring a change in plans, the existing 35-foot-tall drawbridge will be replaced by a 65-foot-tall fixed span bridge. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
FDOT continues to move forward with its bridge replacement plans despite continued public and legal opposition from a group that includes former Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash, former Manatee County Commissioner and Cortez resident Jane von Hahmann, Cortez residents Linda Molto and Joe Kane, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, the Cortez Historical Society and ManaSota-88.
These and other opponents of the 65-foot-tall fixed-span bridge have repeatedly expressed support for a new 35-foot-tall drawbridge to replace the existing drawbridge instead.
On April 23, 2018, FDOT issued a press release regarding its then-recent bridge design decision.
“A fixed bridge is resoundingly the best financial investment for taxpayers. The initial construction cost, including design and construction, saves approximately $23.9 million compared to a new mid-level drawbridge. Over the 75-year life of the bridge, the fixed bridge also saves approximately $11.2 million in operating and maintenance costs compared to the drawbridge,” according to the FDOT press release.
CORTEZ – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has dismissed with prejudice a second request for a formal administrative hearing regarding FDOT’s plans to someday replace the Cortez Bridge drawbridge with a 65-foot-high, fixed-span bridge.
FDOT issued its final order on Tuesday, Dec. 10 and sent a copy to Joe McClash as the qualified representative of the petitioners who oppose the fixed span bridge. In addition to McClash, the petitioners include Cortez residents Jane von Hahmann, Joe Kane and Linda Molto and FISH (the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage), the Cortez Village Historical Society and ManaSota-88.
These individuals and organizations sought a formal hearing before an administrative law judge associated with the State of Florida Division of Administrative Hearings concerning the legality of the process that led to FDOT’s decision to replace the existing drawbridge with a higher fixed-span bridge.
FDOT’s final order notes the first petition for formal administrative hearing was filed on Oct. 29 and resulted in an order of dismissal without prejudice that stated the Division of Administrative Hearings did not have jurisdiction over the claims made by the petitioners. That order gave the petitioners 10 days to file an amended petition.
The final order issued on Dec. 10 noted the petitioners responded by arguing that their initial petition for a formal administrative hearing was appropriate for review by the Division of Administrative Hearings, but failed to provide adequate allegations for any agency action to be reviewed in accordance with Florida Statutes.
The Dec. 10 order states that in both instances the petitioners alleged FDOT failed to comply with a memorandum of understanding between FDOT, the Federal Highway Administration and the National Environmental Policy Act.
“The department (FDOT) and derivatively the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings lacks jurisdiction over petitioners’ claims. It is thus ordered that the first amended petition for formal administrative hearing is dismissed with prejudice for lack of jurisdiction,” the final order states.
McClash response
On Wednesday, Dec. 18, McClash distributed an email in which he shared his thoughts on FDOT’s decision.
“FDOT issued a final order dismissing our petition stating FDOT and DOAH lack jurisdiction to hear the issues raised. This is a disappointing decision, but not unexpected. FDOT took action under a memorandum of understanding with the Federal Highway Administration. The agreement clearly defines actions the state must comply with for replacing a project like the Cortez Bridge. These actions taken on behalf of the federal government are state actions. However, in its desire to place a roadblock to a review by an administrative law judge, FDOT claims these actions are not state actions,” McClash stated in his email.
This ruling defies logic, and most of all allows a state agency to dictate to our community the type of mega bridge or other road projects without recourse provided by our state’s rules. We will evaluate the decision and make a decision by January 10 to appeal this decision, a decision that FDOT exceeds its authority by not forwarding the petition as required to DOAH,” McClash’s email concluded.
CORTEZ – Opponents of the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) plans for the replacement of the Cortez Bridge have filed a petition for a formal administrative hearing before the State of Florida’s Division of Administrative Hearings.
The petition is in response to FDOT’s written announcement on Oct. 10 that stated FDOT’s Office of Environmental Management granted location and design concept acceptance for the bridge replacement project that calls for a 65-foot-tall fixed-span bridge to someday replace the aging drawbridge on Cortez Road.
The FDOT acceptance signaled the end of the Project, Design and Environment (PD&E) study phase and allows the project to move into the design phase. Filed in accordance with Florida Statutes, the petition challenges that FDOT acceptance.
Former Manatee County Commissioner Joe McClash is serving as the qualified representative for the petitioners – a group that also includes former County Commissioner Jane von Hahmann, Cortez residents Linda Molto and Joe Kane, the ManaSota-88 organization, the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH) and the Cortez Village Historical Society.
Von Hahmann signed and verified the notarized petition on Oct. 23.
The petition names the State of Florida Department of Transportation as the respondent.
The first page of the 23-page document states all the petitioners would have their substantial interests affected by agency action that permits the existing drawbridge to be replaced with a 65-foot-tall fixed-span bridge instead of a new and drawbridge.
“The 65-foot high level-fixed bridge will impact the maritime culture of the fishing village of Cortez and its fishing industry,” the petition says of FISH’s statutory right to initiate the challenge.
“The 65-foot high level-fixed bridge will create immediate harm to the historic fishing village of Cortez,” the petition says regarding the historical society’s right to challenge.
“Members recreate throughout the region including the area of the Cortez Bridge and have concerns that the fixed span bridge will impact environmental, aesthetic, cultural and natural resources,” the petition says of ManaSota-88’s right to challenge.
“The proposed action of a 65-foot high level-fixed bridge immediately affects the petitioner’s substantial interest in the use of the navigation waters at the Cortez Bridge with a sailboat having a mast height of 60 feet,” the petition says of McClash’s standing as a petitioner.
Taken from a 2017 FDOT video simulation, this illustration shows how the proposed bridge would alter the landing area in Cortez. – Submitted
The petition states von Hahmann has lived in the village of Cortez for 43 years and owns commercial and residential rental property in the village. It also states Kane resides at Fewville, a tiny village located within the historic village of Cortez, and Molto is a 32-year resident of Cortez who lives in one of the oldest houses in the village.
The petition states the FDOT action impacts the various petitioners’ quality of life, environment, financial well-being, mobility and the preservation of the village they enjoy and intend to continue enjoying.
The petition states a 65-foot bridge would create a dangerous intersection of offsetting streets with no safe pedestrian crossing, create an unacceptable increase in noise levels, divide the neighborhood with a wall-like structure and change the aesthetics of the village of Cortez in contravention of the county’s land-use restrictions.
McClash insight
When contacted, McClash said the FDOT attorney has acknowledged the petition was filed and will either accept it as filed or find flaws and request corrections.
Barring a successful motion to dismiss, McClash expects an administrative law judge from the Division of Administrative Hearings to conduct a hearing and issue a recommended order. McClash said FDOT would then issue its own final orders.
“It’s a little bit of an unfair process because the final action goes to the agency that wanted to permit what you’re challenging. Even if you have facts in your favor, the department has a lot of discretion when it comes to entering these final orders.” McClash said.
“I think FDOT definitely missed informing the public of the impact of the 18-foot-high sound walls,” McClash said.
As noted in the petition, McClash and his fellow-petitioners dispute FDOT’s claim that 75% of those who attended a public hearing in 2017 supported the 65-foot bridge option.
McClash said the petitioners’ ultimate hope is that FDOT rescinds its PD&E study-based action, addresses the concerns of the community and opts for a new drawbridge instead.
FDOT response
On Oct. 31, FDOT spokesperson Brian Rick provided The Sun with the state agency’s initial response to the petition.
“We have received the Petition for Formal Administrative Hearing for the Cortez Bridge. The department is highly confident that we followed all applicable state and federal guidelines related to this PD&E study; however, since this now a legal matter, we cannot provide comment,” Rick said via email.
The days for the current Longboat Pass Bridge may be numbered, but the bridge’s number isn’t up quite yet.
During the October Island Transportation Planning Organization meeting, representatives from the Sarasota Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization and the Florida Department of Transportation gave an update on the planned repairs for the existing drawbridge. Repairs are planned to begin May 1, 2019, but FDOT representative Jim Jacobsen said there would be limited disruption to vehicular traffic during construction.
Jacobsen said the bridge, built in 1957, is functionally obsolete, having served past it’s expected 50-year lifespan by 11 years. The bridge is rated by FDOT as fair, and the project development and environment study to determine if it should ultimately be repaired or replaced will begin in 2020. In the meantime, major repairs estimated at $3.7 million will begin in mid-2019. Jacobsen said the contractor has been given a $160,000 incentive to finish the repairs before Thanksgiving 2019.
Repairs will be made to the sidewalks and traffic lanes to cover potholes and cracks, along with repairs to the steel span to combat rust, correct mechanical issues, repair the supporting concrete beams and protect the undersides of the bridge from erosion. One of the primary goals with these repairs is to correct issues caused by exposure to the harsh environmental elements in the pass and seal the bridge to reduce the effects of rust and erosion in the future.
What motorists can expect, Jacobsen said, is to see nighttime lane closures between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. with 15-minute-long temporary bridge closures allowed between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. to move equipment. Detours where the bridge will be completely closed to traffic from midnight to 5 a.m. for two nights only, have already been mapped out. Jacobsen said the United States Coast Guard has already approved the bridge closures.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie requested that FDOT keep Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key police in the loop regarding lane and bridge closures. Jacobsen agreed, adding that the lane closures will be optimized to allow emergency vehicles through the construction area if necessary. He said lane closures are not allowed for Friday and Saturday nights. Prior to the start of construction Jacobsen said an environmental review of the area will be done to ensure that lighting for the project does not adversely affect nesting sea turtles on the beaches.
CORTEZ – If the current plans for the 65-foot clearance replacement for the Cortez Bridge hold true, the only structural casualty of the project will be a vacant car repair shop about two blocks east of the Seafood Shack, according to an aerial photo provided by Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Communications Manager Zachary Burch.
In an email, Birch said, “The bridge ends just past 127th St. W. and matches the existing pavement just west of 124th St. Court W., so it does not impact the historic village of Cortez.”
A video showing the landing points of the bridge may be viewed at the Cortez Bridge project website. Burch said the video is tentative as they don’t have the formal design yet.
What now? After more than two decades of discussions about the pros and cons of a tall, fixed-span bridge connecting the mainland with Anna Maria Island, we’re now getting not just one bridge, but two.
The Florida Department of Transportation has finally made its decision after multiple meetings, surveys and pushback from Cortez residents regarding the correct bridge design and height to build. As we now know, the decision is a 65-foot, fixed-span bridge to replace the existing Cortez drawbridge, matching the planned and previously approved Anna Maria Island Bridge.
As of now we don’t have any time frame on when these bridges may be built. The Anna Maria Island Bridge has been in the design stage since 2015 and, of course, the Cortez Bridge design stage hasn’t even started. The funding for both bridges is still in the unfunded status on FDOT’s websites.
My guess is that although we all may be concerned with how tall bridges will change the face and style of Anna Maria Island, Cortez and the western edge of the mainland, probably what most homeowners are really concerned about is how such a massive change to our lifestyle will affect their property values.
As much as it pains me to say this, the face of Anna Maria Island and surrounding areas has already been transformed substantially in the 20 years I’ve been living here and frankly, I don’t see any way to stop further change. When I look out my window and see tour boats, paddleboards and jet skies buzzing by every few minutes it breaks my heart, but has it changed my property value? The answer is no; nor do I believe a tall bridge will degrade property values either.
Before you start writing your letter to the editor, hear me out. Granted there will be an impact to the historic Cortez village and also to residents on the north side of Cortez Road, but after attending FDOT’s August meeting I was reasonably satisfied that access for residents and visitors on both sides of Cortez Road has been accommodated. Details are available here on the Cortez Bridge project.
Nothing is perfect, not the least of which is the traffic on Cortez Road going westbound and sometimes backing up beyond 86th Street. On more than one occasion, I’ve thought, what do potential buyers think if they’re considering a purchase on either side of Cortez Road or Anna Maria Island? Most of this season and frequently off-season traffic jams are caused by bridge openings every 30 minutes, especially when it takes at least 15 minutes to get moving again after the bridge is closed.
As far as property values in the three cities on Anna Maria Island, let me refer you to my May 2 analysis of $1 million and over properties, both recently sold and currently listed. Will a pair of tall bridges that have the potential to move traffic faster on and off the Island eliminate our million and multi-million-dollar properties? Not likely.
This may be a good time to take a step back and breath deeply before assuming that property values are going to be negatively affected by either one of these bridges. And as far as changing the character and charm of the area, that’s already been altered and continues to be in flux for a variety of reasons.
I don’t like what has happened to Anna Maria Island either, I miss the small town beachy feel driving along Gulf Drive that I discovered 25 years ago. However, it is indeed a paradise and always will be. Tall bridge or no tall bridge we’re still fortunate to call it home.
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners oppose the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) recent decision to replace the Cortez Bridge drawbridge with a 65-foot-tall, fixed-span structure.
Mayor John Chappie, a former Manatee County commissioner, placed the bridge discussion on the agenda for the Thursday, May 3, meeting so commissioners could share their thoughts in a public setting.
“When I was with the county, Commissioner (Carol) Whitmore and myself were the only two elected officials at the county level that flat-out said no, we did not want a high bridge. We wanted the low one of the three options they had,” Chappie said.
“I was disappointed. The Island has its character and it’s definitely not high structures. As we used to say years ago, ‘The trees are taller than the buildings.’ I know change is going to happen, but sometimes it’s just tough to take, this chipping away at the way things were,” Chappie said.
“I really don’t know if there’s anything we can do about it,” he added, noting that FDOT held several public meetings and gathered public input before making its decision.
Commissioner Jake Spooner suggested sending a letter to FDOT officials. Chappie agreed that it would be a good idea to at least officially voice the commission’s disappointment.
Spooner guessed it would be about 10 years before the funding was available to replace the existing drawbridge. Chappie estimated it might be 5 to 10 years, depending on what the federal government does in terms of passing legislation for infrastructure funding.
The Cortez Bridge was built in 1956.
“None of us want this thing, but what can we do?” Commissioner Randy White said.
White said he spoke with a resident of the Bridgeport condominiums who’s concerned the bridge will butt up against her home.
“Obviously not happy about this,” White said.
“I don’t know anybody who is,” Chappie replied.
White said a large bridge, similar to the Ringling Bridge in Sarasota, doesn’t make sense for a barrier island.
“I feel really bad for the people in Cortez,” he added.
Chappie said FDOT will want members of the Cortez and Bradenton Beach communities to serve on its yet-to-be-formed bridge aesthetics committee. He thinks it’s important for the City Commission and the Scenic WAVES Committee to be represented on that committee.
“Several members of our community should be on that. It’s the entrance to our city and it’s part of the CRA district,” Chappie said.
Commissioner Marilyn Maro said the people she’s talked to are not happy with the decision. She also mentioned the individual meetings city commissioners previously had with FDOT officials.
“They didn’t seem like they were going in that direction. I guess things must’ve changed since they talked to us,” Maro said.
Maro also expressed concerns about bridge users being exposed to higher winds, especially during storms.
“I thought they were leaning more toward the 35-foot mid-rise, with the drawbridge,” Commissioner Ralph Cole said.
“That one was $20-$30 million more. They’re trying to cut costs. They’re going with the cheap bridge,” White replied.
“Obviously they’re going for the maintenance end of it and they don’t have to maintain that span,” Cole added.
White said the fixed-span bridge would also eliminate the salaries paid to bridge tenders.
According to the April 23 press release issued by FDOT, “A fixed bridge is resoundingly the best financial investment for taxpayers. The initial construction cost, including design and construction, saves approximately $23.9 million compared to a new mid-level drawbridge. Over the 75-year life of the bridge, the fixed bridge also saves approximately $11.2 million in operating and maintenance costs compared to the drawbridge.”
After more than 25 years of local resistance to replacing the two drawbridges from the mainland to Anna Maria Island with tall, fixed spans, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced it would build a tall replacement for the Cortez Bridge.
FDOT officials made the announcement at Monday’s Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization, a government group that regulates road and bridge construction projects in the two-county area.
The decision caps a long struggle for many residents of Anna Maria Island, who said tall bridges would be out of style on an Island that restricts building heights and limits fast food chain restaurants and retailers.
FDOT officials had narrowed the choices for a new bridge to two: A 35-foot-tall drawbridge with an estimated cost of $95.76 million, or a 65-foot, fixed-span bridge with a price tag of $72.1 million. A third option of repairing the existing drawbridge and extending the life of the structure another 10 to 15 years was deemed not feasible by FDOT.
Opinions have varied over the years on which option was the best. In surveys conducted by FDOT, a surprising number of respondents favored the tall bridge. Improved traffic flow and fewer delays from drawbridge openings were reasons cited.
Opponents, however, maintained that not only would the tall bridge be out of place, but it also would pose a danger during hurricane evacuations because it would have to be closed in high winds. Some in Cortez also feared that access to their homes and businesses would be restricted by the mega-bridge.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said Monday he was disappointed in FDOT’s decision, but he understands the state wants to have as few traffic interruptions as possible. He said they have a duty to make sure the new bridge doesn’t impact the entryway to the city, the bike path that goes under the current bridge and Bridgeport condominiums north of the current bridge landing.
“The new bridge would land just north of the current bridge and that would definitely impact Bridgeport condominiums,” he said. “We need to make sure it would not impact Bradenton Beach negatively.”
Chappie said the tall bridge would be out of style with the city.
“We used to say we were unique because the trees were taller than the buildings but that might not be true anymore with that bridge,” he said.
Chappie said the plans call for an aesthetics committee, like the Anna Maria Island Bridge replacement project.
“We’re going to have to make sure we’re well represented and make sure the decisions they make are for the betterment of Bradenton Beach and the Island,” he said.
Manatee County Commissioner Carol Whitmore said she also did not like the decision. She pointed out there was a deal made 25 years ago between FDOT and Island elected officials to replace the Anna Maria Island Bridge with a tall, fixed span if they would leave the Cortez bridge as a medium-height drawbridge that would open to boating less than the current bridge because more boats would fit under it.
Longtime Cortez resident Dr. Mary Fulford Green said the new bridge would be a fiasco.
“It will close five roads and during storm season, it would have to be closed to traffic sooner in high winds,” she said. “I want to know how much federal funding would go into the project because in 1995, they put a rule in the Federal Register that says you cannot use federal funds to negatively impact historic areas, and Cortez is a historic area.”
Former Manatee County Commissioner Jane von Hahmann, a Cortez resident, said she was disappointed in the FDOT decision, but not surprised.
“I hoped and prayed they would decide in favor of Cortez, but it didn’t happen,” she said. “It seems more and more decisions are being made in favor of people who don’t live here.”
Florida Department of Transportation information specialist Zachery Burch said if all the relevant government agencies support it, they would start working on the details to come up with a final plan. He said the tall bridge would require extra roads to make some businesses accessible and there would be some benefits.
“It would create more parking and there would be roads on both ends running beneath the bridge connecting the north to the south,” he said. “We might have golf cart lanes or canoe/kayak launching areas and fish cleaning stations.”
He confirmed there would be an aesthetics committee formed in the future with local representatives to decide the decorative details and landscaping.
The tall bridge recommendation now will go to FDOT in Tallahassee for final approval. If it gets the green light, design of the bridge could begin later this year. The project currently is not funded.
CORTEZ – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) will construct interim intersection improvements at State Road 684/Cortez Road and 119th Street West this month.
This project was chosen earlier this year from three other options to improve safety and traffic flow at the intersection.
Interim improvements include extending the existing median east of 119th Street West to 119th Street West; eliminating eastbound Cortez Road to northbound 119th Street West movement; installing improved crosswalks on Cortez Road and 119th Street West; and modifying the traffic signal to a continual green-phase for eastbound Cortez Road at 119th Street West, unless a pedestrian activates the signal to cross Cortez Road.
Construction will begin late this month and is anticipated to be complete by the end of the year, weather permitting. Motorists may expect lane closures from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. FDOT urges motorists to stay alert for construction crews.
BRADENTON — Residents of the Village of Cortez can breathe a little easier now that the Florida Department of Transportation is changing its plan for 119th Street access.
Concern mounted after FDOT released plans to try for a reduction in vehicular congestion on Cortez Road by modifying the signal at the 119th intersection and adding medians which would restrict left hand turns in and out of the south side of 119th Street. The changes, based on three-year-old traffic counts conducted by FDOT contractors, didn’t demonstrate sufficient traffic to keep access to the street as-is.
A new traffic count showed a significant increase in the amount of left turn traffic at the intersection, prompting FDOT to change its plans.
Gone are the planned median increase and turn lane restrictions. However, FDOT is still looking at three options for the intersection, none of which has emerged as a top contender as of press time for The Sun.
One option is to re-stripe a section of the roadway to provide a two-way left turn lane from the south side of 119th Street to Cortez Road and from westbound Cortez Road to the south segment of 119th Street. A second option, recently offered to the department by Cortez residents and business owners, is to use a segment of Florida Maritime Museum property to realign the intersection.
The third option under consideration is to do nothing, leaving the signal as-is.
However the department decides to proceed, FDOT Communications Specialist for District 1 Robin Stublen said the impact to the historic fishing village would be considered. Any alterations made at the intersection also will be considered in the replacement of the Cortez Bridge.
“We have not made a final decision concerning the Cortez Bridge,” Stublen said in an April 17 email. “We work closely with all departments so any planned changes in the Cortez Road improvement will be included in the bridge.”
A public workshop for the proposed 119th Street intersection changes has been rescheduled to Tuesday, May 9 at 5 p.m. at the Cortez Road Baptist Church, 4411 100th St. W., Bradenton.
HOLMES BEACH — It didn’t take long for the Florida Department of Transportation to respond to Holmes Beach commissioners’ request to return the Holmes Beach speed limit to 35 miles per hour west of the Anna Maria Island Bridge.
Holmes Beach drivers were in an uproar after the FDOT lowered the speed limit across the bridge from 45 to 35 m.p.h. and reduced speed west of the bridge from 35 to 25 m.p.h. without notice.
During a special meeting convened Feb. 16, commissioners unanimously voted to request a reversal of the FDOT decision.
David Gwynn, FDOT Director of Transportation Operations, sent a same-day response Feb. 22 to Holmes Beach Mayor Bob Johnson’s e-mailed request to increase the speed limit west of the bridge to its previous posted limit.
While Gwynn agreed to reverse the change, in his e-mail, he maintained the speed study completed prior to the change and submitted to the city after new signs were posted remains valid. He said another one would not be conducted by the department at this time. The change took effect Feb. 28.
Commissioners also voted 4 to 1, with Commissioner Pat Morton dissenting, to increase the speed limit from 25 to 35 m.p.h. along a stretch of Gulf Drive from 43rd Street to 52nd Street near Anna Maria Elementary School.
The change went into effect Feb. 22.
