Water Shut Off, Barrier Island Bridges Closed: Hurricane Milton

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — Access to the barrier islands, including Casey key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key and Longboat Key, closed Tuesday at 7 p.m. as Hurricane Milton makes its way to Florida.

After 7 p.m., those who live there or who were on the islands will be able to leave and return to the mainland, “but no entry will be allowed back on until after the post-storm search and rescue mission is completed,” Sarasota County officials said in a news release.

Those leaving the islands should bring enough supplies to last them several days.

Also Read: Hurricane Milton Strengthens To Category 5: ‘Worst-Case’ Scenario

• John Ringling Causeway, just west of Golden Gate Point in Sarasota
• Siesta Drive Bridge, 1400 Siesta Drive in Sarasota
• Stickney Point Road Bridge, 1512 Stickney Point Road in Sarasota
• Blackburn Point Swing Bridge, 733 Blackburn Point Road in Osprey
• Albee Road Bridge, 913 Albee Road in Nokomis
• Manasota Beach Road Bridge, 2055 Manasota Beach Road in Englewood

Water service to these areas was shut off Tuesday at 10 a.m., officials said.

The Venice Utilities Department is expected to shut off and/or reduce the level of service for water on Wednesday morning.

This will help “to isolate the infrastructure for protection of the water supply for Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice and critical medical facilities” ahead of Milton, city officials said in a separate news release.

Water service, including water for fire protection, will be shut off for the following developments: Windwood, The Sophia, Waterford/Berkshire Place, The Reserve Apartments, Pinebrook Lake Club, Lakeside Woods South, and Pinebrook South, the city said.

It will remain off for the duration of the storm and until any repairs are completed.

Water service was shut off for the island of Venice on Tuesday at 7 p.m.