LONGBOAT KEY, Fla. (WFLA) – Last week, the mayor of the Town of Longboat Key sent a letter to the Florida Department of Transportation emphasizing the town’s “strong preference” for the agency to reconsider a lower-level drawbridge leading into the north end of the island.
This comes shortly after public hearings related to the project aimed at replacing the aging bridge.
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FDOT has said the project is needed to address the structural integrity of the existing bridge, enhance multi-modal mobility, improve bicycle and pedestrian facilities, and improve emergency evacuation and response times.
The preferred alternative has been designated as a high-level fixed bridge with a 78-foot clearance, which would come with a 75-year lifespan. The existing drawbridge currently has a clearance of roughly 17 feet when closed…