OSPREY, Fla. (WWSB) – A new technical review is challenging Sarasota County’s plans to replace the historic Blackburn Point Swing Bridge in Osprey, finding the nearly century-old bridge could instead be rehabilitated at a substantially lower cost.
The Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation, which is advocating to preserve the bridge, commissioned the preliminary review from Michigan-based Bach Ornamental & Structural Steel, a firm that specializes in restoring historic bridges.
The review examined Sarasota County project documents, inspection materials, photographs, videos and cost estimates to determine whether rehabilitation could be a viable alternative to replacing the bridge…