Long-time resident wants bridge from 53rd Avenue to Longboat Key

I have been a full-time resident of Manatee County since 1971. At that time, the 43rd Street traffic light was the last one to Anna Maria Island. Strawberry and tomato fields were on both sides of Manatee Avenue.

My husband and I lived on Iris Street in Anna Maria from 1971 to 1989. In 1985, Hurricane Elena was approaching the island. At 2 a.m., police used their bullhorns to tell us to evacuate the island. We packed a few things and left our home. It took 1 1/2 hours just to get across the Anna Maria bridge. (Imagine how long it would take in 2017.) Fortunately for the islanders, the hurricane switched directions and went back out to sea. We were spared any serious damage.

Manatee County residents have discussed the need for a third bridge from 53rd Avenue to the north end of Longboat Key in Manatee County for many years, to ease the access from Bradenton Beach to the Cortez bridge. Have you tried driving along Gulf Drive on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon? Traffic is backed up in both directions. Now is the time to make plans to build the bridge before future construction is started. The beautiful fixed span bridge across Sarasota Bay from Sarasota to Bird Key (an exclusive community) is spectacular. It is an example of good planning. The Cortez bridge could be used as a fishing pier as it ages, to avoid expensive repairs and to save the historic Cortez Village.

State and county planners and commissioners, get your heads “out of the sand.” Don’t let the real-estate politicians talk you out of the need for a fixed span bridge. Do what is right for Manatee County so that we can preserve the beauty of Anna Maria Island for future generations, and have access to leaving the island and Longboat Key quickly in the event of another hurricane.

This story was originally published May 22, 2017 at 12:51 PM with the headline "Long-time resident wants bridge from 53rd Avenue to Longboat Key."