Construction is beginning on a $123 million replacement of the Cortez Bridge, which has connected Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island to mainland Manatee County since 1956. The project will replace the aging drawbridge with a taller bridge that boats can pass beneath without stopping traffic.
The Florida Department of Transportation plans to build the new bridge 65 feet above the water, with two travel lanes, wider shoulders and sidewalks on both sides. The work will cover nearly a mile of Cortez Road, from Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach to 123rd Street West on the mainland.
The first changes will come at either end of the bridge, where crews will move traffic slightly south to make room for construction, relocate utilities and build a new connection to Hunters Point Way. Those traffic changes are expected by the end of 2026, with the entire project expected to take about three years.
Crews will build the new bridge in two stages so drivers can continue crossing between Bradenton Beach and the mainland throughout construction, starting with the northern half alongside the existing bridge. Traffic will move onto that section in mid-2028, clearing the way for crews to tear down the old bridge and build the remaining half. Barges and temporary platforms will allow crews to work over the water.
The project follows years of planning, including a 2019 decision to replace the drawbridge with a taller crossing and meetings with Cortez and Bradenton Beach residents and business owners about the design. Since 2020, a local committee has helped shape the bridge’s appearance, recommending four pedestrian overlooks, lighting beneath the bridge and railings with a wave pattern. Those features could still change.
FDOT will hold a public meeting Tuesday, October 20, from 4 to 6 p.m. at Kirkwood Church, 6101 Cortez Road West in Bradenton, where residents and business owners can learn about the construction schedule and traffic changes. Project representatives will be available to answer questions.