Rehabilitation project expected to be completed by end of April
Earlier this week, the Albee Road Bridge in Nokomis reopened to two-lane vehicular traffic, Sarasota County staff has reported.
As some rehabilitation work remains underway beneath the bridge, motorists are encouraged to drive with caution and watch out for the workers, a news release points out.
Marine traffic should continue to anticipate the bridge’s opening on 30-minute intervals for about another month, the release adds.
In a YouTube interview this week, Alex Bublik, manager of the Albee Road Bridge Project, told Media Relations Officer Brianne Grant, “For the past seven months,” workers had undertaken a number of steps to rehabilitate the structure. They had changed out electronic and mechanical components, replaced the deck and painted the bridge, he said. “We extended the life of the bridge for another 15 years,” Bublik noted.
“Fifteen years is the typical industry standard if maintenance continues to be performed,” the county’s March update on the project says.
The 309-foot-long bridge over the Intracoastal Waterway was constructed in 1963, Historicbridges.org points out.
Marinas.com notes that the bridge “is located exactly one mile north of the Venice Inlet, and is tucked behind Casey Key …” Traditionally — when the rehabilitation work has not been underway — the bridge has opened on demand, that website adds.
The design of the project cost the county $678,200, a project status sheet says. The construction contract with Seacoast Inc. in Oldsmar put the expense of the work at $3,240,182.66. The County Commission approved the contract on Nov. 16, 2021, the project sheet adds.
Construction began in August 2022. Because of Hurricane Ian’s strike on Southwest Florida in September 2022, along with the need to address additional, unforeseen issues found once the work was underway, county staff extended the timeline in the contract for completion of the undertaking, the project sheet explains. The work is expected to wrap up by the end of April.