After delay, Fort Hamer Bridge set to open Oct. 18

After being delayed twice due to inclement weather, Fort Hamer Bridge is finally set to open Oct. 18.

The 2,318-foot bridge spans the Manatee River and will provide a direct north-south connection between Parrish and Lakewood Ranch via Fort Hamer Road and Upper Manatee River Road, but it won’t be the first time the bridge has been traversed.

Fort Hamer Bridge opened temporarily in September to aid in the Hurricane Irma evacuation process. The bridge also hosted the Fort Hamer Bridge Run 5K, 10K and mile walk on Aug. 26.

Construction began in March 2015, with an expected completion date of summer 2017. Johnson Bros. Corp. served as the project’s contractor.

Fort Hamer Bridge includes paved bike lanes, improved shoulders, a sidewalk on the east side and turn lanes at the north and south approaches. The bridge and associated improvements to its connecting roads total $32.69 million.

The cost of the bridge project itself is $23,95,567. In addition, $6,490,000 of road improvements are being made to Fort Hamer Road, and $2.7 million of improvements are being made to Upper Manatee River Road.

Fort Hamer takes its name from a U.S. Army fort built in 1849. It was one of a string of forts used to protect settlers from attacks by native people.

A bridge was proposed at Fort Hamer for the first time more than 100 years ago.

This story was originally published October 3, 2017 at 11:58 AM with the headline "After delay, Fort Hamer Bridge set to open Oct. 18."