Traffic congestion in Bradenton, Palmetto top concern for area residents

MANATEE -- If traffic is backed up on the two bridges into Bradenton from Palmetto, it would take less time to get to St. Petersburg in an emergency than Manatee County hospitals, Palmetto resident Jerry York said Thursday.

For the Yorks, the traffic congestion on the Green and DeSoto bridges, particularly during an emergency, is their biggest issue.

"We have to have alternative ways to get to the emergency room if that's needed," Peggy York said Thursday during a Florida Department of Transportation public workshop. "It would take less time to get to St. Petersburg. You could

get there immediately. It is the only way to get to the emergency room."

The Yorks were one of many Manatee County residents who attended Thursday's visioning workshop on the Central Manatee Network Alternatives Analysis at Bradenton Area Convention Center. The workshop gave residents an opportunity to give feedback on the study, which is intended to "address local and regional travel needs while supporting broader economic development goals," according to study materials.

Project documents and graphic displays were set up around the room, giving people the chance to learn more about the study and talk with project staff about their thoughts. The project boundaries are 26th Street West on the west, Ellenton-Gillette Road on the east, 17th Avenue West on the south and 17th Street West on the north.

While FDOT has already collected empirical data in the 13-square-mile project area, which includes Palmetto and Bradenton, Thursday's workshop was a chance to hear from residents who provided "anecdotal data about issues they deal with on a daily basis," said Lawrence Massey, FDOT project manager.

"These people now can provide us anecdotal data that we merge with empirical data to come up with a really good idea of what the problem is today," Massey said. "It is their project. They know better than anyone what the problems are. They drive it everyday. They bike it everyday. They walk it everyday."

Living in Riviera Dunes in Palmetto, Mike Becks watches the congestion on both bridges daily.

"We watch traffic backup," Becks said, adding that there are a lot of accidents at U.S. 301 and Haben Boulevard, which is of concern.

Bradenton resident Kathy Gossweiler said she came to Thursday's workshop to get information about the "horrendous traffic in the area and if there are any plans for improvement."

Gossweiler's biggest headache area is going west on Manatee Avenue and hitting the traffic coming off the bridge from Palmetto.

The traffic is worse today than it was when Gossweiler moved to Bradenton in September.

"It's gotten progressively worse," she said.

With the bridges and downtown Bradenton as the biggest areas of concern, Jerry York said a new bridge needs to already be on the drawing board.

"There is nothing on the drawing board," he said.

But Peggy York added that "even if a new bridge is built and nothing is done in downtown Bradenton, you are still stuck."

Claire Aronson, Manatee County reporter, can be reached at 941-745-7024. Follow her on Twitter @Claire_Aronson.

This story was originally published March 31, 2016 at 11:19 PM with the headline "Traffic congestion in Bradenton, Palmetto top concern for area residents ."