Work begins on John's Pass Bridge

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Madeira Beach Vice Mayor Martha Boos is concerned about the bridge project's effect on John's Pass businesses.

Work begins this week on one of the largest road construction projects to hit the barrier islands in years when crews replace the bridge over John's Pass Marina.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) said the bridge for people traveling between Madeira Beach and Treasure Island is falling apart and needs to be replaced. But progress comes with a price.

Next Sunday traffic across the bridge will be down to two lanes on the northbound span as the southbound span is shut down, removed and rebuilt. Then crews will do the same thing to the northbound side.

The project is expected to take about four years and will cost $76.6 million.

Madeira Beach Vice Mayor Martha Boos said that's just one of her concerns.

"It's going to be very difficult for people to use this parking lot to get to John's Pass, especially during the season, when it's being built because the access under the bridge will be shut," Boos said.

Business managers at John's Pass said they're bracing for a slow-down.

"We're used to adversity on the islands," Kathleen McDole of the Friendly Fisherman restaurant said. "We take what comes whether it's storms, red tide, bridge closing, whatever, we live here and we deal with it."

When the new bridge is finished, it will provide wider travel lanes in each direction. It will also widen the navigation channel for boats and the drawbridge will be higher so the number of openings and closings for boat traffic will be less.

Contractors said boat traffic shouldn't be interrupted during the construction phase. The Coast Guard said if channel closures occur, there will be advanced warning.

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