FDOT expected to begin $130 million bridge upgrade
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is expected to start work on the Cortez Bridge, a major connection corridor in the Gulf Coast. The $130 million investment from the FDOT will transform the drawbridge to a 65-foot-high fixed bridge. The upgrade also involves the inclusion of two 12-foot travel lanes, 10-foot shoulders on each side for disabled vehicles and emergency access and 10-foot sidewalk for improved pedestrian and cyclist safety.
The bridge, originally built in 1956, is noted to have structural and functional deficiencies. This includes safety concerns, limited capacity and disruptions due to its drawbridge.
While still in the design phase, construction is set to begin in the summer of 2026.
