8-inch-wide pedestrian bridge in Sarasota? 'I'm no engineer, but…'

Twitter followers last week had some fun at the expense of Sarasota County government’s official social media account after a posting that updated readers on a pedestrian bridge over Phillippi Creek in the Pinecraft neighborhood.

The four-part Tweet included this: “The project includes construction of an eight inch wide pedestrian bridge,’’ followed by news the work should be completed by late spring.

🛑🚧Pinecraft Pedestrian Bridge Project Update🚧🛑

This project includes construction of an eight inch wide pedestrian bridge over Phillippi Creek in the Pinecraft Community. Pile driving operations have recently been completed.
1/4 pic.twitter.com/dKmof7riQp

— SarasotaCountyGov (@SRQCountyGov) January 13, 2023

Wise-guy commenters followed with responses that included a reference to Sarasota’s circus-tightrope-walking Wallenda family, a comment that began with  “I’m no engineer…" and mentioning balance beams.

I’m no engineer, but I don’t think an eight inch wide bridge is big enough for people to safely cross.

— Enrico Pallazzo (@ShaneAssetsmith) January 13, 2023

8 inches? That is only twice as wide as a balance beam. Dang! I'm going to have to work on my gymnastic skills.

— Hoosier Mama (@debbie_does_it) January 14, 2023

For the record, the $1.3 million bridge is really going to be 8 feet wide.