North-end residents push for lowest alternative for Longboat Pass Bridge

Although the Longboat Pass Bridge replacement is years away, North End residents want to keep up the debate about which bridge height would be optimal for the community. 

The Longboat Pass Bridge is currently the subject of a Project Development & Engineering Study conducted by the Florida Department of Transportation. In March, FDOT representatives held a public workshop on Longboat Key to speak with the community about the three build alternatives — a low-level bascule bridge, a mid-level bascule bridge and a high fixed-span bridge. 

A fourth, no-build option is also on the table, but the current Longboat Pass Bridge is “functionally obsolete” and repairs grow increasingly costly for the bridge’s maintenance, according to the FDOT. 

Courtesy image

In June, Mayor Ken Schneier sent a letter to FDOT representatives. Crafted along with guidance from fellow commissioners, the letter stated the town’s preference for the mid-level bascule bridge and for the department to continue to look for ways to reduce the width of the bridge. 

Since then, the bridge has been a topic of discussion at a recent Manasota League of Cities meeting, and Mayor John Chappie of the city of Bradenton Beach said the city commissioners voted to take the position in support of the mid-level bascule bridge, following in Longboat Key’s footsteps. 

Members of Longboat Key North agree with town commissioners that the tallest build alternative for the Longboat Pass Bridge is the worst-case scenario, but feel that the Town Commission should have pushed for the lower-level bascule bridge.

Longboat Key North, a community group of 24 homeowner and condominium associations on the North End recently had its July monthly meeting in which the Longboat Pass Bridge was one of the main topics.

The group’s interest in the Longboat Pass Bridge spans as far back as 2021 when a sub-committee first took shape. At that time, Longboat Key North sent a letter to FDOT that emphasized the importance of building a new bridge directly next to the existing one, while maintaining the same landing spot. The letter also voiced the group’s preference for a bridge “not to be significantly wider” than two lanes. 

Following the March workshop, Co-Chair Maureen Merrigan sent another letter to the FDOT. This time, Merrigan expressed concern over the width and said many community members were opposed to taller bridges, which she said are more dangerous. 

“If the bridge is to be replaced, only the lower bridge would fit the scale of the community and surrounding areas,” she said in the letter.

According to Merrigan, many of the members took the time to air frustrations over the town commission’s recommendation during the group’s July meeting. She said aside from the concerns the community group has about the height, width and safety of the bridge, one of the top frustrations was that members thought the commission should have reviewed more data before taking a stance. 

“When in doubt, I believe the Commissioners should either get more data or do what the community is asking,” Merrigan said in an email. “This was not one person making public comments at a workshop. This was a large community group with Representatives from 26 Neighborhoods/Condo Associations, who also had a task team assigned to look at this and make a written recommendation. So, of course, we were disappointed that LBK North’s position on height was not considered more thoroughly.”

Merrigan said that she understands the weight of the town taking a formal position on the project, and also realizes that the town won't always agree with community voices. But, she said she believed the town should have taken a closer look. She has continued conversations with Schneier, while also reaching out to FDOT for more information about the bridges.

Insight into openings 

The existing Longboat Pass Bridge has a vertical height of 17 feet above the mean high water line. All the other bridge alternatives are higher than the existing one, which would mean fewer required bridge openings for vessel passage. 

According to data sent to Merrigan from FDOT Project Development Engineer David Turley, the Longboat Pass Bridge opened 2,589 times in 2021. There were an average of 216 openings per month and about seven per day. 

Full annual data for 2022 was not yet available, according to Turley, but the bridge opened an average of 222 times per month and seven times per day. 

Though commissioners and the community have expressed much opposition to it, the high-level, fixed-span bridge would have a 78-foot clearance that 100% of boat traffic could pass through. The slope of the bridge would be about 4.5%, according to Turley’s data.

Courtesy image

The mid-level bascule bridge — which the commission recently advocated for — would have a 36-foot clearance, which is a little more than twice the height of the existing bridge. The added height would allow for 69% of boat traffic to pass, and the bridge’s slope would be 4%. 

Courtesy image

Most members of Longboat Key North, though, are in favor of the low-level bascule bridge. This bridge would have a 26-foot clearance — about 9 feet higher than the existing bridge — and allow for 61.8% of boat traffic to go under it. This bridge’s slope would be around 3%. 

Courtesy image

Overall, the low-level bascule bridge would reduce the number of openings by 4%, whereas the mid-level bridge would reduce the openings by 35%, according to an Alternatives Evaluation Matrix included with the project’s materials. 

Still time

In recent emails to Merrigan, Schneier said that, while the city of Bradenton Beach recently notified the town of its position, there are more discussions to come. 

“Regarding height, our main objective was to try to avoid the high fixed bridge, despite its much lower cost. We felt that showing some flexibility (to reduce openings) would enhance the likelihood we could avoid the worst case,” Schneier said in an email to Merrigan. “If the opportunity arises to argue for the lower bascule, we will certainly do so.”

According to the project schedule from the March workshop, public hearings would be the next step in FDOT’s process, which was slated for early 2025. Following those, the PD&E Study would need to be approved, which would include the location design concept approval. This was also scheduled for 2025, though the schedule was preliminary and subject to change.