A major transportation project connecting mainland Manatee County with Anna Maria Island is moving forward, with construction expected to begin in September on a new $123 million Cortez Bridge.
The Florida Department of Transportation plans to replace the existing Cortez Bridge along State Road 684, or Cortez Road, with a 65-foot-high fixed-span bridge. The current two-lane drawbridge was built in 1956 and has served as one of the primary routes between the mainland and Bradenton Beach for approximately 70 years.
One of the most noticeable changes will be the elimination of regular bridge openings. The existing bridge has approximately 22 feet of clearance and must open to accommodate taller boats traveling along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Those openings can cause traffic to back up in both directions, particularly during busy periods. The new bridge’s 65-foot navigational clearance will allow most marine traffic to pass underneath without stopping vehicles.
The project will maintain two traffic lanes while providing additional space for motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Plans include 10-foot shoulders and 10-foot sidewalks, along with roadway improvements extending from State Road 789, or Gulf Drive, on the island to 123rd Street West on the mainland.
FDOT plans to construct the bridge in phases to keep traffic moving during the approximately 1,200-day construction period.
During the first phase, crews will construct the northern portion of the new bridge next to the existing structure. Traffic will be shifted slightly south at the approaches while crews construct new roadway approaches, relocate utilities and complete a new connection at Hunters Point Way. The first major traffic shift is anticipated by the end of 2026.
Once the first portion of the new bridge is ready, traffic will move onto it. Crews will then demolish the existing drawbridge and construct the remainder of the new bridge. FDOT anticipates the second major traffic shift around mid-2028.
The project will also make use of the former Seafood Shack property in Cortez. Manatee County purchased the waterfront property in 2024, and county commissioners have allowed the bridge contractor to use the site as a construction staging area. Plans associated with the arrangement include improvements to the property after construction activities are completed.
Although drivers should expect construction activity and changing traffic patterns during the multiyear project, the phased approach is intended to maintain access between Cortez and Bradenton Beach throughout construction.
When completed, the new bridge will mark a significant change to one of Manatee County’s most recognizable gateways to Anna Maria Island, replacing a structure that has carried residents and visitors across the Intracoastal Waterway since the 1950s.
