MANATEE – Talks of a potential new bridge over the Manatee River have begun.
In a Sarasota/Manatee Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting on Monday, officials heard a presentation on the long-term transportation plans for the two-county area. One of the items discussed was the idea of adding a bridge to alleviate traffic from the DeSoto and Green bridges in Bradenton.
Whit Blanton, a consultant from Renaissance Planning Group, told the municipal representatives on the MPO that they might need to start thinking about it.
”We brought that to (Technical Advisory Committee’s) attention, that we recommended a new bridge,“ he said.
MPO officials should also start thinking about maybe turning the bridge into a toll road, he said.
”There is a need for new capacity, to help with accessibility,“ Blanton reported.
Marianne Barnebey, chairman of the MPO and a Bradenton city council member, said the need was apparent, especially after a tanker accident burnt part of the U.S. 301 overpass to Interstate 75 several years ago. The incident caused traffic to be rerouted through Bradenton, causing massive congestion.
”What would happen if there is a problem on one of those bridges,“ she said, referring to the Green and DeSoto bridges.
Building a bridge takes time, and Barnebey said it was good for the MPO to bounce the idea around.
”You can’t put a bridge up in 24 months. You have to start by recognizing there is a need,“ she said. ”It can’t be done overnight. This venture to get the conversation started is a good thing.“
During the meeting, MPO authorities also approved amendments to the Transportation Improvement Program (PDF, 2.1 MB), a 2010/11 to 2014/15 plan containing a list of public roadway projects for the two-county area.
Among some of the Manatee County projects included in the plans are:
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