The drawbridge that backs up Cortez Road traffic every time a boat passes underneath is about to be replaced.
The Florida Department of Transportation will begin construction in September on a new 65-foot-high fixed-span bridge over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, replacing the 1956 Cortez Bridge on State Road 684. The estimated $123 million project will eliminate the drawbridge openings that delay Lakewood Ranch-area drivers heading to and from Anna Maria Island, according to the Tampa Bay Beacons.
Why drivers have been stuck waiting on boats for 70 years
The current bridge, built in 1956, stands just 22 feet high and must open for boats to pass. Those openings back up traffic on Cortez Road for miles, particularly during tourist season, creating gridlock that spills into Lakewood Ranch neighborhoods along State Road 684.
The new fixed span will rise 65 feet above the waterway, tall enough for vessels to pass without stopping a single car. FDOT identified the 70-year-old bridge as needing replacement due to safety concerns, saying regular repairs are no longer an effective long-term option.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie told Bay News 9 in February that the new bridge will improve traffic flow off the island. "It's safer because traffic will be able to flow easier, with less opportunity for people getting upset in traffic," Chappie said.
Wider shoulders, sidewalks and scenic overlooks planned
Beyond the bridge itself, the project includes 10-foot shoulders, 10-foot sidewalks and nearly a mile of rebuilt roadway approaches stretching from State Road 789 (Gulf Drive) to 123rd Street West. The wider shoulders and separated sidewalks represent a significant upgrade from the current bridge, which lacks dedicated pedestrian space.
FDOT conceptual renderings show blue metal railings with a wave design on the walkway, a concrete traffic barrier separating cars from pedestrians and four overlook areas where walkers and cyclists can stop and take in views of Anna Maria Sound.
Construction will take approximately 1,200 days, about four years, FDOT spokesperson Jason Heironimus said in November 2025.
How FDOT plans to keep both lanes open for four years
FDOT designed the project in two phases so both traffic lanes stay open throughout construction.
In Phase 1, crews will build the northern half of the new bridge alongside the existing drawbridge. Traffic will shift slightly south at both approaches. That phase also includes utility relocations and a new connection at Hunters Point Way.
In Phase 2, traffic moves onto the new span, the old bridge comes down and crews finish the southern half.
Former Seafood Shack site to serve as construction staging area
Manatee County commissioners voted in summer 2026 to let FDOT's contractor use the former Seafood Shack property in Cortez as a construction staging area. In exchange, the contractor will make improvements to the site once the bridge is finished.
The county purchased the waterfront property in 2024 with plans to build a boat ramp and possibly a Gulf Islands Ferry landing. It demolished the Seafood Shack restaurant and the adjacent Annie's Bait and Tackle.
Cortez Village business owners brace for construction disruption
James Gowett, a 25-year employee at the Star Fish Company in Cortez Village, told Bay News 9 in February that he worries construction will cut off customers. "You know, it's going to affect business. People just won't be able to get here," Gowett said.
Manatee County Commissioner Tal Siddique acknowledged the trade-off at a Longboat Key Republican Club meeting in November 2025, calling the project a "long-term benefit with short-term inconvenience."
No groundbreaking date set yet
FDOT has not announced a specific groundbreaking date or public comment deadline. Residents with questions can contact FDOT District 1 Communications at [email protected].
