Mixed feelings over Bayway Bridge Replacement Project | News

St. Pete Beach, Florida  - Construction is expected to next week for the Bayway Bridge Replacement project in Pinellas County. There are mixed feelings about it. Residents understand the need for a new bridge, the current one is about 50 years old, but they're worried about more lanes, increased traffic and the safety.

The Bayway Bride Replacement Project will include replacing the existing two lane bascule bridge with a four lane fixed high-level bridge.

There will never be a complete shut down of the bridge. The contractor is going to build the eastbound lanes to the south of the current structure, once that's finished, FDOT will shift traffic over there, demolish the existing bridge and then build the westbound lanes.

Tuesday night, the Florida Department of Transportation held a construction open house for residents. It gave the public a chance to see the plans and to ask questions.

FDOT says the high level bridge will help with congestion when the draw bridge goes up and backs up traffic. Many residents had questions, particularly about safety.

"Now, we're going to have two lanes in each direction, plus the bike trail, and there's no means of signalization, at either one of our entrances, and we've asked DOT for it and they won't give it to us," says Russ Sternberg, who lives at the base of the bridge.

FDOT spokesperson, Kris Carson says there are no plans at this time for a signal, "A lot of times if you put a signal in that's not warranted, you can actually increase accidents. We can't just put signals in at the whim, we have to make sure the numbers are there to actually support it, we don't want to increase accidents cause we can actually do some damage if we put something in that doesn't belong there."

Construction will take about two years. During the project, FDOT will hold weekly meetings for the local residents and there will be viewing area in a safe place where residents can watch the construction.