A 'new' DeSoto Bridge between Bradenton and Palmetto could look like this

The thousands and thousands of commuters who traverse the Green and Desoto bridges know rush hour is a pain. The Central Manatee Network Alternatives Analysis has been making the rounds through various boards and commissions before making it in front of Manatee County commissioners Tuesday.

FDOT consultants presented multiple options that aim to alleviate traffic in a heavily congested part of Bradenton. Among things proposed are expanding Sixth, Ninth and 27^th Streets East, changing the direction of a portion of Manatee Avenue West and Sixth Avenue West, and an elevated route that could go over the Desoto Bridge, separating local and regional traffic.

While commission Chairwoman Betsy Benac said her peers should remain open minded on the “No. 1 priority in Manatee County,” at least one took the proposals as a hard pill to swallow.

Commissioner Charles Smith had some concerns about the elevated bridge. He said he was concerned it would perpetuate the homeless problem where people “sleep under the bridge” and “ask for money,” and that such a bridge would limit access to businesses.

“In my opinion, the overpass bridge decimates property value,” he said.

Historic places like the Braden Castle, Manatee Village and John R. Graham House are also hurdles that are in the way of some of these proposals.

“Those alternative routes have been proposed before,” Benac said, referring to 27th Street East where the Braden Castle is located. “We cannot just assume that that has changed.”

Even so, Benac stressed that the traffic is so bad that businesses are affected, and that they should “keep our eye on the goal, which is to have congestion relief in our area.”

The consultants stressed that none of the options have been finalized, the study won’t be finished until early 2019 and they are open to suggestions. The public will have an opportunity to learn about all of the options during a review meeting on Dec. 12 at First Baptist Church in Bradenton, although a time has yet to be set. Second and third meetings with the public are scheduled for 2018.

Bradenton City Councilman Gene Brown spoke during public comment, echoing Benac’s call to receptiveness.

“If we don’t keep an open mind and do nothing, (it’s) not helping the citizens,” he said.

Other business

▪  Commissioners approved an interlocal agreement between the county and Florida PACE, a financial company that will aid Manatee homeowners who want to make energy improvements to their houses.

▪  Benac stated that the county is working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, which manages state parks, to allow the agency to move the Confederate statue currently in storage to Gamble Plantation.

This story was originally published November 7, 2017 at 5:54 PM with the headline "A 'new' DeSoto Bridge between Bradenton and Palmetto could look like this."