Weight Restrictions Must be Imposed on the Blackburn Point Bridge to Casey Key
Consultants and County Staff took things a bridge too far
by Julie London
From the self-described “rednecks vs. the billionaire” to the refined and snappy comebacks from the folks fighting to save the Blackburn Point Bridge, the Sarasota County Government is provoking equal opportunity anger in a lot of people.
Kelly Bauman leads the cause for residents living on Manasota Beach Road. They call themselves “rednecks” with a smile and a wink, because when Pat Neal, of Neal Communities, decided he could easily plow them over with his money and tractors, the citizens fought back.
When learning of the unexpected protestors, the billionaire wrote in an email to the county, “I am going to have plenty of fun with these citizens.”
We believe we know who’s going to have the last laugh and it’s going to be the ones who have cows and chickens in their backyard.
Heading North on 41 from the tranquil rural old Florida feel of Manasota Beach Road is the coastal Gulf side island known as Casey Key. Heading down Blackburn Point Road, one can experience the beauty of waterfront nature. To the left is the Casey Key Fish House, advertising itself as “Old Florida at its Best”
Blackburn Point Park has different landing points, one with a library accompanied by its faithful sidekick, the American flag. Just up ahead is the jewel of the key, a 100-year-old swing bridge, one of only nine left in Florida.
The single lane bridge causes cars on one side to wait, while a car from the other direction passes through. It’s a rhythmic dance and a connection. “It’s your turn, go. It’s my turn next.”
This is a bridge that not only forces you to slow down physically, but gives drivers and residents a few minutes to evict the bad thoughts residing in their heads and just enjoy the view. When the bridge swings open, it can be a 10-minute wait, but it’s spectacular. Simply exquisite.
Drivers turn off their motors and may step outside of their car. It simply does not get old, because being in the midst of an engineering marvel and watching a large boat go through, is like an oil painting come to life created by an old master.
Symphonies have been composed in homage to old bridges. The art of the past combined with a present is irreplaceable.
Just like the bridge itself.
Replace the Bridge appears to be the battle cry of county staff and consultants.
That’s why it came as a shock to residents and historic preservationists when Sarasota County announced plans to replace the bridge. Immediately, concerned citizens wanting to protect the character of their key and preserve a piece of Florida history, took to their computers and began researching. The cost of a new bridge would be in the ballpark of $37 million - $65 million. A temporary bridge, while the new one was being built would be in the $10 million range.
(The county commissioners have created a $1.7 billion debt, by the way.)
These figures were presented during a June 11 community meeting led by consultant Jim Phillips of Hardesty & Hanover, LLC and Sarasota County staff. Citizens were ushered into a room at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Osprey with easels holding impressive drymounted maps and presentations.
Jan Vertavuille, President of the Sarasota Alliance of Historic Preservation made this statement:
I attended the meeting hoping to gather information, but instead was left with even more questions. The first being: Did these presenters, like County Transportation Director Spencer Anderson and Phillips, know how to read a room?
Even if the bridge was something to “lose sleep over” and needed to be replaced as they adamantly stated, the presentation came across like a sales job from Homer Simpson. The people who live on Casey Key don’t make the kind of money they earn by not having that internal BS meter turned on at all times.
The answers to the questions were off-putting and even illogical in some cases. Most damning was the exclusion of methods to save the historic structure. If that element was so blatantly left out, then there appeared to be only the sole agenda: To sell the public on a replacement.
This is something that those in attendance remained wholly against because they weren’t offered equitable time in the area of restoration.
While Anderson and Phillips made weak claims that an option was on the table to restore the bridge, only the cost to do so was provided, along with a negative narrative. Meanwhile, various bridge replacement choices were offered.
One of the choices was so out of scale, it would result in demolishing the Casey Key Fish House and even possibly the library. Having that alternative on the table, put people in the position of: Us against Government. Janet England Steves, a member of the Sarasota Alliance for Historic Preservation (SAHP) explained: “The folks with the SAHP are basically a group of volunteers with lives of our own combating big government here. None of us knew this was on the radar at all until it showed up.”
Others in the audience called out that several bridges in Sarasota County had the same safety rating. They wondered why the Blackburn Point Bridge was being targeted. It took a while for the answer to come to Anderson, but after awhile he stated that it came from a penny tax referendum that the people had voted on in 2022 that included the bridge.
There was an audible gasp upon hearing that from the audience. ““We are finding county documents stating that it was one of the things the penny sales tax would possibly be used for,” Steves began. “It makes me think twice before voting for something like that again, even though I voted for that every single time.”
A few days after the meeting, the preposterous alternative of a big bridge that removes all the character from the entrance to Casey Key was removed. Perhaps it was never a possibility (due to cost), but would give the public the optics that they were listening and offering a compromise. Make ‘em feel like they got a little win.
The audience repeatedly questioned why there wasn’t more information in keeping the bridge. Steves believes the proof is in what she saw with her own eyes: “We found the Scope of Work documents for the consultants and the scope of work clearly states and I quote ‘Blackburn Point Movable Bridge Replacement’. Restoration makes the most fiscal, environmental and historical sense (as does) a deep dive into preservation.”
At the meeting, people expressed that they felt deceived.
Lack of Weight Limitations Are Questioned
Answers fielded by Phillips regarding weight limitations were confusing. On the Save Blackburn Point Bridge Facebook page, Sue Memminger pointed out that the county had removed weight restrictions, meaning trucks could now use the “dangerous” swing bridge. She writes:
“One minute the bridge was fine and it didn’t need any weight limit restrictions and the next minute it was keeping the county employee up at night because he was fearful of safety that it was gonna crumble.”
She further explained:
“Prior to Covid, I couldn't get an ice maker delivered because the delivery truck was over the weight limit (and the truck wasn't huge). The company had to get a different delivery truck to go over either bridge. Now anything goes over the bridges. These changes seem to be part of an intentional plan and no one at the county will disclose the person who removed the weight restrictions.”
Google AI points out: “Cement trucks can weigh as much as 72,000 to over 80,000 pounds (36 to 40+ tons) when fully loaded. They are classified as "severe duty" Class 8 vehicles and are notorious for their high weight-to-length ratios.”
Phillips told an audience member questioning the weight restriction removal that the main source of damage doesn’t come from the trucks going over the bridge but the salt water and sediment that the bridge is sitting on.
When Phillips was talking of “bridge fatigue” and called the steel bridge a “fracture critical structure”, in the same breath, he explained that the condition of the pile-ons had nothing to do with trucks.
Yet, easy-to-find information reveals that heavy truck traffic can severely damage a bridge’s substructure, including its pile-ons and piers. Damage typically occurs in two main ways: physical collisions and cumulative weight-related stress.
Studies conducted by the Federal Highway Administration show that the actual loads crossing bridges routinely exceed the design standards that older bridges were originally built for. Even without accidents, heavy axle weights and overweight trucks severely accelerate the deterioration of bridge superstructures and their supporting pillars.
The cumulative effect of these repeated heavy stresses causes microscopic fractures and fatigue in the support structures and decks over time.
Memminger was speaking also in reference to Anderson exclaiming that he can’t sleep at night because he’s afraid the bridge will collapse. James Stock, a licensed structural and transportation bridge engineer for the county said that “out of the 180 bridges, this is the one that keeps me up at night”.
Maybe the lack of sleep is because there is no weight restriction. The amount of traffic plays a role, it was said. One cement truck is one too many on the 100-year-old bridge, if Sarasota wants to properly maintain it for longevity.
Perhaps it’s work being done on North Casey Key Road that influenced the unknown power-that-be to lift the weight limits.
Phillips continued in the fear-mongering, bringing up the 2007 tragedy when the I-35 West St. Anthony Falls Bridge collapsed over the Mississippi River Crossing in downtown Minneapolis. Several issues led to this tragedy from fundamental design error to oversights in inspection, maintenance delays, and ultimately rush hour traffic.
Phillips initially explained the bridge deficiencies and that with the bridge being 100 years old, it was designed for Model A cars. He saw an advanced deterioration, with major repairs taking place in 1981 and 1995. In 2021 gusset plates were in need of replacement. Pinion shafts were replaced three times in the past four years.
Still the cost of maintenance, rehab / restoration weighs in at $6 million less than the least expensive replacement bridge option. With the new bridge slated to begin in five years, the costs could zoom astronomically.
More factors were weighed in such as - if a boat crashed into the bridge or a car broke down. He expressed concern if a truck crashes through the bridge railings.
Upon the question being asked if the bridge could be raised so it is out of a ‘splash zone’, Phillips stated that the Coast Guard would not give a permit for that action to be taken. That might not have been the complete story, however.
Several times a tone-deaf Phillips mentioned that all structures eventually fail and must meet their end. This elicited this question from Nick Schutz: “What about the London Bridge? The Golden Gate Bridge? The Brooklyn Bridge? When are those going to be torn down?”
After Phillips repeatedly compared the bridge to an old car with a bad transmission, he stated that we would buy a new car. I reminded him that many collect classic cars. His response was that they’re not kept outside. However, many are - but they’re covered and maintained as to not be harmed by Florida’s harsh elements.
The bridge columns had been wrapped with structural "jackets" (like steel or carbon fiber) to reinforce or repair decaying concrete and protect piles from marine environments. A citizen asked if the consultants had looked under the jackets to see how the concrete was holding up and Phillips answered that they had not.
Phillips also acknowledged, upon being asked, that no traffic study had been done.
He cited the statistics of accidents on the bridge. Between 2019 - 2024, there were ten crashes (two were with bikes and pedestrians). A citizen countered by asking how many accidents happen on the key in that time span and what were they doing about that.
Another person mentioned the one-sided presentation by asking how many of the accidents could have been caused by the number of drinks people consumed at the Casey Key Fish House, rather than by the bridge.
Of the approximately 75 people in attendance, a woman asked about another swing bridge located in Ft. Lauderdale, but Phillips explained that the bridge is not in salt water, but ‘brackish”.
Oh, you’re just being emotional
Commissioner Tom Knight commented that he knew that people were “emotional” over the possibility of the bridge being removed. Let’s explain why that isn’t a good thing. Whether one is in a court of law or having an argument with a spouse, being labelled as emotional is dismissive. It invalidates one’s perspective, undermines professional credibility and can suggest that one lacks rational judgment.
How that helps the advocates to save the bridge is understanding that Knight has already formed an opinion, but it isn’t written in stone. Knight is as fair as they come.
He tried to think of alternatives, wondering if the bridge could be moved to a different site, keeping the historical message alive. “Maybe somewhere along the Legacy Trail?”
Steves and others are proof of the work they put in, instead of just being thought of as sentimental. “The inflammatory terms related to safety during the meeting were offensive and wrong. The county engineer kept using the term ‘fracture critical’, which is a term that the Federal DOT retired in 2022 as it scared people. The new term is “non-redundant member.”
Putting the Cart before the Horse
Steves continued with their findings:
We believe that the county has the ability to allocate funds. The consultants have been approved for as much as $3,700,000 for this project and they have already received nearly $2M. (their words at the meeting). The contract appears to say (I’m not a lawyer) that the county can cancel it with a 30-day notice and or put in a stop order with no penalty.
It was clear that no efforts have been made to investigate a historic restoration that would address the structural issues but maintain the historic integrity. Restoration (not Replacement) was not part of the consultant’s agreement.
What the SAHP wants to see happen is for the county “to pause and bring in a historic bridge preservation specialist / engineer to review the potential possibilities of structural improvements in the current setting. I have found several online. It’s not like they don’t exist.”
A Disposable Society - A Quick Glance
Bridges that are iconic and still functioning are attractions and adds character to towns and cities across the United States.
Perhaps the word “obsolete” can scare off commissioners, but an AI overview reads:
Obsolete bridges can be saved through targeted rehabilitation or retrofitting. Engineers restore structural load capacity, widen lanes, and add modern safety features like updated railings. In cases where a bridge cannot be widened, local authorities may restrict its use to pedestrians, cyclists, or local traffic.
None of this information was offered at the meeting. It was just the opposite. No wonder so many left the meeting feeling duped, or like me - ticked off.
The Blackburn Point Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 20, 2001. The state’s annual inspection of the bridge is in July.
Yet, look what’s happening in Orlando, already overburdened by development. They loosened the rules on downtown Orlando’s historic buildings. The Orlando Sentinel reports that Scott Sidler, a former Historic Preservation Board chairman stated, “Once a wrecking ball swings downtown, no future council can vote a building back.”
Joe Wilson on the Save Blackburn Point Bridge Facebook writes:
It’s ironic that we can have a 1941-1961 steam locomotive train (whose real purpose was to help this United States of America during World War ll.) It is chugging across tracks pulling rail cars with it by determination under its length of 132’ 9-1/4”, weighing in at 1.3 million lbs. with the name of BIG BOY No. 4014 traveling cross-country for America’s 250th and they source the parts somehow.
We have our Sarasota County Government announce back in 2025 during Historic Preservation Month about replacing the “REGISTERED NATIONAL HISTORIC BLACKBURN BRIDGE” What is wrong with our throw-a-way society of today? The experts weighing in best think long & hard what they want to leave in life as their legacy.
What happens Next
I asked some Casey Key residents if they had received a notice from the county informing them of what was happening. They said no and spoke of the different ways they learned about the meeting.
The Sarasota County Schools blast out emails if the administration wants to know where parents stand on a subject. Surely, this would be a logical step (if it hadn’t already been taken) for those who use the bridge considering they are the main stakeholders.
County staff will take their findings to the commissioners who will then make the final decision based on what is presented to them. Hopefully, they will also take public comment under advisement. I’m hearing that most don’t reply to emails.
Steves described the meeting as “incredulous”. I describe it as insulting.
During and after the meeting, trust eroded more quickly than the steel foundation of the Blackburn Point Bridge that holds up hope and history.
If there’s anything to learn from Bauman’s fight against the billionaire developer, it is that the public must attend the meetings. Public comment is heard at the very beginning. Arrive 15 minutes early to fill out a speaker’s card. The next Sarasota County Commission meeting is July 7, beginning at 9 a.m. It is held at the Robert L. Anderson Building, located at 4000 S Tamiami Trail in Venice.
Save the Blackburn Point Bridge Facebook Page is here.
The Blackburn Point Bridge Project website is here. Note that restoration is a very legitimate and less expensive option.
With special thanks to Tommye Whitaker.
A Dear Bubbie note: The pushback from the audience members deserves the highest of accolades. The questions were asked so calmly and succinctly that the consultant seemed to reveal a less superficial front. The advocates to restore the bridge remained unflappable and on point.
It’s important, however, to remind readers that this blog reflects only my opinion.
For more information, Chloe Nelson is one of the top journalists in our area. Her article is here.
At Dear Bubbie, our goal has always been to take a deeper dive beyond what we’re told. Sometimes the people experiencing the problems are the real experts. We listen. We care. To learn more about our campaign for the Sarasota County Commission District 4 seat, our website will be up shortly.
I love what you do for Sarasota County, week in and week out. You are a champion!!
Thanks for looking after the public interest. So few do that.