Closed for reconstruction

Saturday, November 26, 2005

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The Treasure Island Causeway will close January 3.

Commuters will have to take another route when the Treasure Island Causeway closes January 3.

"It's going to be difficult," Treasure Island Vice Mayor Phil Collins said. "It's going to be difficult for six months."

The bridge will only be open to marine traffic for six months as workers do big work on the north span.

"Rebuilding a new bridge that's going to be 22 feet above sea level," Collins said. "The current bridge is four feet above sea level."

During the project, the old piers are going to be replaced all together.
"The degradation of the concrete and the steel," Collins said. "It was just falling apart. It needed to be replaced."

Nathaniel Broad said he's a little concerned about the move. While he agrees something needs to be done, he believes the timing is off. He said the first six months of the year is the time for tourists and not the time to close a bridge because it will close off quick access to the beach.

"A lot of people are coming from up north and they're going to use that bridge to the pier and different places like that," Broad said.

The project has to be done before the next hurricane season and more importantly it's about safety.

"They have ratings up to 100," Collins said. "Our bridge, right now, is currently at a two."

When the bridge reopens in July there will be one lane of traffic in each direction. There will also be a new 10-foot-wide pedestrian and bike path.

The cost for reconstructing the bridge will add up to $50 million.