Bradenton Beach CRA Advances $1.3 Million Utility Undergrounding Project
The Bradenton Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) has approved the next step in completing the undergrounding of utilities within the city’s historic district.
In a unanimous Sept. 18 vote, the CRA authorized staff and consultant Mark Porter of Utility Consultants of Florida to work with Florida Power & Light (FPL) on a binding estimate for the “Gulf Drive Phase 3” project. The agency also approved a $58,775 work assignment to cover survey and coordination expenses.
An FPL letter dated Aug. 27 placed the preliminary cost to bury utilities in the district north of Bridge Street at about $763,447. With storm restoration and operational credits, the city’s net costs to FPL would be roughly $560,000. Additional expenses, including surveying, carrier line conversions, and street restoration, bring the overall estimate to nearly $1.3 million.
Officials emphasized the importance of resiliency and storm recovery in pursuing the project. Once complete, the historic district will be fully underground, except for a nearby trailer park that is not yet ready for conversion.
FPL will begin producing the binding estimate after the survey is finished, a process expected to take three months. Construction would start within 180 days of the estimate’s issuance.
The next CRA meeting is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 16, at City Hall, 107 Gulf Drive North.
Utility Consultants of Florida owner Mark Porter speaks about undergrounding utilities during a meeting on Sept. 17 at Bradenton Beach City Hall.
Photo: Robert Anderson