County officials seek bridge of understanding on Fort Hamer

EAST COUNTY — Greenfield Plantation resident Roger Simmons believes the Fort Hamer Bridge is “a great idea and a necessity,” but he also has concerns.

“What about the increased traffic from a safety standpoint?” he said. “It’s already a racetrack. There are no plans to widen the road.”

The cafeteria of Haile Middle School buzzed with questions and feedback from the public March 26, when Manatee County hosted a public meeting for the Fort Hamer Bridge project. The county has started work on the two-lane, 2,300-foot bridge across the Manatee River that will connect Upper Manatee River Road in the south to Fort Hamer Road in the north. The project also includes roadway improvements to both Fort Hamer and Upper Manatee River roads.

Members of the public viewed large-scale drawings of the plans, reviewed documents and asked questions of county transportation officials and project consultants.

Residents of Greenfield Plantation, GreyHawk Landing and other neighborhoods off Upper Manatee River Road echoed Simmons’ concerns.

Kim Bittar, a GreyHawk Landing resident who manages Greenfield Plantation’s homeowners association, said residents also worry traffic cutting through their neighborhood will increase as drivers seek to avoid the intersection of State Road 64 and Upper Manatee River Road.

County officials, however, reminded residents the plans are already set.

“We’re here to show you what’s being built,” Manatee County Public Works Deputy Direcotor Engineering Services Sia Mollanazar said, pointing to maps for the project. “There is no four-lane anywhere on this project.”

The project also includes the installation of a new traffic signal on Upper Manatee River Road, immediately south of Waterlefe’s back resident-only entrance, which is located farther north than its main public entrance off Upper Manatee River Road.

Waterlefe resident Barb Lee said she had concerns about traffic and construction noise, but the meeting proved useful.
“I came to gather what information I could; the maps were very helpful to envision (the project),” Lee said. “My only concern is access for any subdivision. More traffic is coming.”

Project overview
Manatee County contractor Johnson Bros. will construct the Fort Hamer Bridge, which will extend about 2,300 feet across the Manatee River, connecting Upper Manatee River Road with Fort Hamer Road.

The two-lane ridge will have bike lanes and improved shoulders, as well as a sidewalk on the east side of the road. Approaches to the bridge include turn lanes, sidewalks, shoulders, roadway lighting and signalization.

Upper Manatee River and Fort Hamer roads also will receive functional improvements, including construction of additional sidewalk on the west side of the road, 4-foot paved bike lanes and 4-foot grass shoulders, the addition of right and left turn lanes at each intersection, milling and resurfacing of the existing pavement and the widening of Fort Hamer Road Road from 22 to 24 feet.

The project will be completed in early 2017.

Total project costs are $32.7 million.

For more information, visit forthamerbridge.com or contact community outreach coordinator Trudy Gerena at [email protected].

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].