Construction to begin soon on new Cortez Bridge. Will it improve island traffic?
Construction on a new, higher Cortez Bridge will start this summer, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The project will cost the FDOT over $130 million and provide a high-level, fixed-span bridge connecting the mainland Cortez Village to Bradenton Beach and the other island communities. An FDOT spokesperson said construction is estimated to last a little over three years.
Built in 1956, the FDOT previously said the Cortez Bridge needs to be replaced due to “structural and functional deficiencies,” including issues with safety and efficiency.
The new bridge will be a 65-foot-high fixed bridge, meaning there will be no drawbridge. On the bridge will be two 12-foot travel lanes, each bordered by a 10-foot shoulder and a 10-foot sidewalk.
The wider lanes will also allow emergency vehicles to pass through traffic, an option not currently available on the existing bridge, which lacks shoulders.
Previous FDOT studies said eliminating the drawbridge will allow 98% of boat traffic to pass, as opposed to 33% of boats that can pass through without needing to pull the drawbridge up and stop road traffic.
The $6 million design phase of the new bridge is expected to finish in March, according to the FDOT, which is when the department will receive bids for the construction. Construction is anticipated to cost around $128 million, according to the FDOT.
Local officials ready for bridge upgrade
Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique, whose district includes the Cortez Village and island communities, said the bridge will help traffic congestion that travelers frequently experience in that area.
“I honestly think it’ll be an incredible investment in that area,” Siddique said. “The amount of lanes, pedestrian paths available to people, I think it will make a significant difference in the congestion we experience going out to the island.”
FDOT documents show the new bridge will be built immediately north of the existing bridge to allow traffic to continue during construction. Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said he hopes this plan will mitigate the local traffic impacts during construction.
“It’s going to be a challenge,” Chappie said. “They’re going to be planning the traffic patterns throughout the construction process, hopefully will not be too inconvenient for the travelers.”
Residents previously expressed concern about the height and overall size of the bridge, and what impacts that could have on the local community. However, FDOT recommended the 65-foot-high bridge, saying it prioritized safety, cost and walkability, as well as the advantages to not having a drawbridge.
“That battle was fought a long time ago, and FDOT, you know, really pushed for the high span, and that’s what they settled on,” Chappie said.
Overall, though, Chappie said the island city is looking forward to having this bridge improvement, and its construction, completed.
“I think we’re all looking forward to getting the bridge construction started and completed as quickly as possible,” he said.
