Once again, what's the best bridge?

History is interesting … and sometimes inconvenient. 

For people who don’t remember this historical debate, it seems worth sharing with the current and ongoing conversations over the planning and replacement of the Longboat Pass Bridge.

When the John Ringling Causeway bascule bridge broke down 11 times between January and June in 1990, the Florida Department of Transportation began plans to replace the four-lane, double-leaf drawbridge. Even then, on normal days during afternoon peak season traffic, eastbound traffic was bumper to bumper and stalled in tie-ups beyond St. Armands Circle. Sound familiar?

The bridge design favored by the state and many residents was a 65-foot fixed span. It would be less expensive to build and less costly to maintain and operate than another drawbridge.

The city of Sarasota and the Bridge Too High Committee sued FDOT because they favored simply replacing the 21-foot high bascule bridge. They also stated the high bridge would be disproportionately sized for Sarasota. 

At that time, Longboaters were adamant that a fixed span was necessary for evacuation routes, emergency responders, medical emergencies and uninterrupted traffic flow. They also felt the convenience and ability to travel unimpeded without bridge openings would certainly help the seasonal traffic tie-ups.

Longboat Key’s mayor at the time stated, “A drawbridge doesn’t make good sense from the standpoint of health, traffic, safety, air pollution, you name it.” 

Constituents crowded public hearings on the issue, testifying that the drawbridge delayed emergency trips, backed up traffic and generally wasted their precious time. The town of Longboat Key petitioned to intervene on behalf of the state to support its position and oppose the city of Sarasota and the Bridge Too High Committee.

When the new fixed-span Ringling Bridge opened in August 2003, the bridge became the widest precast segmental bridge in Florida. The top deck spread consisted of four traffic lanes, emergency lanes, bicycle lanes and pedestrian sidewalks. The bridge the city of Sarasota sued to prevent being constructed is now its most iconic and beloved site. It is a magnet for cyclists, runners, walking and sightseeing at dawn or sunset. The views are undeniably stunning from any vantage point.

There’s an interesting debate now going on regarding FDOT’s proposed high fixed-span bridge at Longboat Pass. That proposed bridge would sport a lower slope than the Ringling Bridge; be the lowest price of all options; and essentially occupy the same footprint, landing on Longboat’s north end as the lowest proposed bascule bridge. 

The Longboat Key Town Commission, meanwhile, is taking a position to replace the bridge with a low, bascule bridge. 

We should take a step back and consider whether that is the best option for our future needs. The town’s position should reflect the opinions and wishes of the entire island.

My impetus to write is not to suggest what to think, simply to provoke thinking. 

Susan M. Phillips retired recently as long-time executive assistant to the Longboat Key town manager. She was named March 3 as the chairman of the Longboat Key Foundation Board of Directors.