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Matlacha Bridge Replacement PD&E, Lee County, Florida: E.C. Driver, the prime consultant, conducted an Alignment Study and prepared Final Design plans for replacement of the Matlacha Bridge in Lee County, Florida. The existing single-leaf span bascule bridge provides the only vehicular access from Matlacha and the mainland to the Greater Pine Islands over Matlacha Pass in Charlotte Harbor. This two lane bridge carries one lane of vehicular traffic in each direction on CR 78. The existing bridge is considered to be “functionally obsolete”, and exhibits structural deterioration due to the aggressive saltwater environment. The bridge is a critical evacuation route and is also known locally as the “Fishingest Bridge in the World”. Matlacha Pass is extremely shallow, used primarily by recreational boaters and some local fisherman. It is located within an aquatic preserve and known for its importance as habitat for manatees. The historic nature of the town, extremely narrow right-of-way at the bridge approaches, high volume of pedestrians crossing the roadway in the absence of safe pedestrian facilities, limited parking areas, and limited area to treat stormwater runoff posed challenges for development of viable alignment alternatives that were acceptable to the community. Since no detour exists, maintaining traffic during construction was a critical design factor. Three alignment alternatives were developed and evaluated. Accurate estimates of construction and life-cycle costs were compared and considered. Potential environmental impacts were assessed and the public was engaged throughout the Alignment Study phase of the project. Replacement of the existing bridge with a new bascule bridge on an alignment south of the existing bridge was recommended and selected for design. To minimize impacts, the new bridge will feature the same vertical and horizontal clearances as the existing bridge, 50 feet of horizontal clearance, 9 feet of vertical clearance.
Client: Lee County, Florida
Design Cost (Est.): $ 2,396,000
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