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…