After 106 years in the making, Manatee County broke ground on March 19 on the Fort Hamer Bridge across the Upper Manatee River, just a short distance from Bradenton.
Among those at the groundbreaking ceremony were officials and staff from the County and area residents, many of whom wore Fort Hamer Bridge polo shirts.
Manatee County Public Works Director Ron Schulhofer called this event a “milestone” and expressed his appreciation at being part of it.
Commissioner Larry Bustle added that the bridge has been long-awaited and once it is finished in 2017, it will provide an important connection between Parrish and Lakewood Ranch, which are two communities that are among the fastest growing in Manatee County, and join Bradenton with Sarasota. It will make commute times shorter and improve emergency response time and overall safety.
The bridge will connect two roads on either side of the Manatee River— on the north side, Fort Hamer Road, and on the south side, Upper Manatee River Road, providing a north-south alternative to Interstate 75. It will cost $32.7m and the work will be carried out by Johnson Brothers Corp. of Hillsborough County, which will also make improvements along the Upper Manatee River and Fort Hamer Roads.
The Fort Hamer Bridge was initially discussed by the county commission in 1909, so colorful poster printing may be used to inform the community that work has finally begun on the bridge.
