Pinellas Bayway Bridge Replacement Open House Set

ST. PETERSBURG, FL — Residents who want to learn more about an upcoming $53 million project to replace the Pinellas Bayway Bridge will get their chance Thursday. The Florida Department of Transportation has announced an open house to discuss the project with residents.

The public open house is set to take place from 4 to 7 p.m. April 27 at St. Petersburg College’s Allstate Center Florida Room, 3200 34th St. S. The project involves a complete replacement of the bridge from north of Yacht Club Lane to State Road 682. The existing two-lane bridge will be replaced with a two-lane, high-level fixed bridge, FDOT said in announcing the open house. The bridge spans between Isla Del Sol and Tierra Verde.

In addition to the replacement project, repaving will take place and the seawall south of the bridge will be replaced. The project also includes construction of a 12-foot-wide, shared-use path on the east side of the new bridge and a 5-foot-wide sidewalk on the west side for the entire project length of 2,900 feet. A roundabout will be installed at Madonna Boulevard and First Street, as well.

Thursday’s meeting will have an informal structure. That means residents can come in at any time to look at plans, graphics and exhibits, and ask questions of FDOT staff.

FDOT intends to select a contractor for the project by the end of this year. Construction on the new bridge will begin in the summer of 2018. The project is expected to take about three years to complete. The existing bridge will remain in place while the new structure is built on its east side.

Residents with comments about the project who cannot attend the meeting may submit them to Kevin Lee, project manager, FDOT, District Seven at 11201 N. McKinley Drive, Tampa, 33612. All written comments must be postmarked by May 11, 2017, to become a part of FDOT’s official record.

For more information about the project, visit FDOT online.

Image via Shutterstock