Public Hearing For Dunedin Causeway Bridge Project March 11

DUNEDIN, FL — Pinellas County, in coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation, will hold a public hearing on the Dunedin Causeway Bridges project from west of Royal Stewart Arms Parkway on Honeymoon Island to the intersection of Gary Place/Gary Circle on Ward Island in Pinellas County.

The public hearing will take place Wednesday, March 11, at the Hale Activity Center, 33o Douglas Ave., Dunedin, starting with an open house at 5:30 p.m. followed by a formal presentation at 6:30 p.m.

Officials will present the project development and environmental study to evaluate the rehabilitation or replacement of the existing Dunedin Causeway Bridges. The length of the project is about two miles and includes two existing bridges. The Main “bascule” or movable bridge connects Ward Island to the Dunedin Causeway. The Tide Relief Bridge is a fixed bridge which connects Dunedin Causeway to Honeymoon Island.

The project will focus on improvements to the two bridges. There are no improvements planned for the Dunedin Causeway beaches or recreation areas.

Minor roadway improvements will be needed to transition the existing roadway to the roadway on the replacement bridges if the study determines that bridge replacement is the best alternative for one or both of the bridges.

Both bridges were constructed in 1963 and are considered “functionally obsolete” because of their narrow width. There are no shoulders on the bridges, and the sidewalks on the north side are only 3 ½ feet wide. The multi-use path on the south side of the bridge is only 6 feet wide.

Both the Main and Tide Relief bridges do not meet current engineering standards for resisting damage from high waves during significant storms and vessel impact. Ongoing maintenance and repair of the Main (bascule) Bridge machinery also affects reliability and results in traffic delays.

Major rehabilitation or replacement of both bridges is needed to keep the bridges open and the Main (bascule) Bridge operating efficiently.

The study began in December 2014 and this will be the last public hearing before approval is expected in June.

Draft documents will be available for review through Monday, March 23, at the following locations:

• Dunedin Public Library, 223 Douglas Avenue, Dunedin: Monday through Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 8 p.m.; Thursday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. – 6 p.m.; Saturday, 9:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

• Pinellas County Public Works, 22211 U.S. 19 N., Building 1, Clearwater: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.