Frequently asked questions about the Anna Maria Island Bridge closure
How will traffic be affected during the bridge closure?
Traffic will be heavy along detour routes so plan for delays and congestion on 75th Street West, Cortez Road West and Gulf Drive.
Also, delays are likely for Manatee Avenue West between the bridge and 75th Street West.
How have emergency services prepared for the bridge closure?
There are about eight helicopters available to the Tampa Bay region if an emergency is deemed severe enough for a patient to be airlifted. In that case, Blake Medical Center will be prepared to receive airlifted patients, if necessary.
How will fire rescue be prepared to respond to island emergencies?
West Manatee Fire Rescue will add three firefighters and a second fire engine to Station No. 1 in Holmes Beach during the bridge closure. A staffed fire engine will be stationed in Bradenton Beach 12 hours a day during closure.
What if a hurricane evacuation is issued during the bridge closure?
If a hurricane evacuation is issued, the contractor will reopen at least one lane to traffic on the bridge.
What school bus schedules will be adjusted?
Before the school year began, the Manatee County School District made adjustments to bus routes that run on the island or detour to accommodate for the bridge closure. All bus stop times are the same unless changes are later announced by the school district.
Is MCAT adjusting any routes or adding any routes?
A free bus transfer to the island will be available during the bridge closure. The bus transfer will run from Blake Medical Center to Coquina Beach to connect passengers with the free trolley. The bus transfer will run from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.
What are the drawbridge schedules for boaters at the Anna Maria and Cortez bridges?
The Cortez Bridge will be closed from 5:35 a.m.-9:25 a.m., 1:35 p.m.-4:25 p.m. and 8 p.m.-4:25 a.m., and aside from that will open once an hour at the bottom of the hour.
The AMI Bridge will be closed from 6 a.m.-9 a.m., 2 p.m.-5 p.m. and 8 p.m.-5 a.m., and will also open once an hour, but at the top of the hour.
The bridgetender can draw a single leaf on the AMI Bridge on signal for boaters except between 6 a.m.-7 p.m., and a double-leaf opening is possible with a one-hour notice.
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