MANASOTA KEY, Fla. ( WWSB ) - This week, Sarasota County approved a nearly $10 million bridge repair project.
For the first time in roughly two decades, the Manasota Beach Road drawbridge will see some improvements made.
The county says the repairs will extend the bridge’s service life and prepare it for sea level rise.
A combination of funds from the U.S. Department of Transportation, Resilient SRQ, and the county’s infrastructure surtax will fund the work.
Suncoast residents are sharing their concerns about the potential increase in traffic or potential road closures, creating a loss of beach access.
“Every night I come for the sunset with my wife. It definitely would be an inconvenience. I would be freaked out about it, really,” Manasota Key Resident Mark Strand said. “I mean, I