Florida’s Manatee County will reach new milestones in the new year with construction projects along with several other Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) road and bridge projects.
Construction on a project to reconfigure the Interstate 75 interchange at U.S. Route 301 to a diamond formation and replace the bridge across the Manatee River will be completed in mid-2025.
The project will widen parts of I-75 from State Route 64 to U.S. Route 301 to eight lanes and the U.S. 301 interchange will be reconstructed to a tight diamond configuration. Two new bridges across the Manatee River will serve as exit and entrance ramps. FDOT anticipates both bridges will be open in February.
FDOT is looking to break ground on the replacement project for the Cortez Bridge before the end of 2025 or early 2026. The bridge connects the Manatee County mainland to Anna Maria Island. The replacement will be built just north of the existing bridge.
Two other bridge replacements that will connect Anna Maria Island are slated for the 2028-2029 fiscal year.
FDOT is also working on an environmental assessment to replace the bridge between Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key. Design work is scheduled for 2026, but funding has not yet been allocated.
FDOT plans on resurfacing State Route 55 to extend the lifespan of the roadway. Road work includes replacing guardrails, repairing sidewalks, improving lighting and replacing pedestrian signals.
Lastly, construction to widen a 3.6-mile stretch between State Route 70 from two to four lanes began in September and will continue until late 2027.
Source: Yahoo, Herald Tribune
