After years of studying alternatives between downtown Bradenton and Palmetto, state officials say an overpass and new DeSoto Bridge over the Manatee River is the best option.
The Florida Department of Transportation presented its preferred alternative at a recent public hearing. The project would include a two-lane elevated expressway and a new, six-lane DeSoto Bridge at a price tag of about $916 million.
FDOT wants to build a wider version of the DeSoto Bridge, which would be more than double the current width of 62 feet. The new bridge would include three travel lanes and a shared-use path on both sides, and two buffer-separated express lanes in the center…