BRADENTON, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) still wants to hear from you about plans to replace the Desoto Bridge in Manatee County.
The four-lane bridge which connects U.S. Highways 41 and 301 over the Manatee River between Palmetto and Bradenton has been in poor shape for a while. A public hearing scheduled for 5 p.m. at the Veterans Hall at the Manatee County Fairgrounds wants to give more residents a chance to speak out about plans for the bridge.
A key concern, which has already long been expressed by many commuters and residents in that area, is the traffic congestion.
"Getting out of here is really tough. I absolutely despise it because it's just horns blowing the whole time and driving out, I don't even think about it until the rush-hour ends. So yes, it's pretty bad," said Yuriy Osipov of Bradenton.
Osipov works at an auto body shop less than a mile away from the Desoto Bridge. He has a front-row seat through the front shop window to what he calls a rush hour nightmare.
He said it's also a struggle for ambulances going to and from nearby Manatee Memorial Hospital trying to connect to the 67-year-old bridge.
"The thing is this is Florida so there's a lot of old people falling and stuff like that and the ambulances come in and out but yes, sometimes we do see them stuck in traffic and it's pretty concerning if you think about it," Osipov said.
Osipov admits that some days instead of complaining or allowing the situation to frustrate him he's found a way to take advantage.
"They slow down to the point that I give them business cards if their cars look like they need a paint job," he said.
In October, FDOT announced plans to spend around $168 million to replace the bridge. The Bradenton-Palmetto Connector Alternative Corridor Evaluation study is looking to increase roadway capacity address growing transportation demands and enhance connectivity and safety for all users, including motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians and trucks.
"I'm a little worried about the construction aspect of it that might cause even more traffic but as long as it solves the traffic in the long run I think that's something that we should go with," said Osipov.
The public hearing will discuss the study, potential design concepts for the bridge and community feedback as well as concerns about possible plans to keep it the same size.
"As long as the new bridge is bigger and it gets rid of the congestion that would be great," he said.
Construction on the new bridge is expected to begin in 2027 and should take between 18 to 24 months to complete.
