Longboat Pass Bridge's bascule malfunctions

On Oct. 24, the bridge tender of Longboat Pass Bridge noticed the bascule was sticking. Around noon, the bridge was assessed and determined to be a simple malfunction. 

At 3:45 p.m., workers from the Florida Department of Transportation evaluated the bridge and found a 2.9-inch gap between the bascule portion and the roadway.

FDOT continued to monitor the bridge, and by Oct. 25, the gap had widened to 4 inches. A normal gap between a bascule and the roadway is 1.5 inches.

The bridge is currently stuck in the down position, but it is stable and is safe and open to traffic.