What caused a hole in Manatee Avenue bridge to Anna Maria Island? Here’s what FDOT says

Heavy rainfall caused the hole in the Manatee Avenue Bridge that prompted emergency repairs Wednesday afternoon, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

An agency spokesperson told the Bradenton Herald the damage happened to a section of the bridge that had been repaired before.

“The recent heavy rains caused a previously repaired area of the concrete to deteriorate,” said Janella Newsome, a public information director with FDOT.

The Bradenton area has dealt with heavy rainfall in recent weeks, with nearly 12 inches of rainfall in one day during Hurricane Debby, which also caused historic flooding . Over the past week, Bradenton has seen 6 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service.

The bridge was closed to eastbound traffic Wednesday due to the hole but re-opened Thursday morning with traffic moving freely in both directions without delay, according to multiple agencies. Newsome said the repairs had to be temporarily put on hold Wednesday afternoon due to severe weather, but after the rain subsided crews worked overnight to finish them.

A photo posted by the Holmes Beach Police Department to social media Wednesday showed a hole in the road that appeared to reveal the reinforcing bar support in the bridge .

When will aging AMI bridge be replaced?

The aging bridge, which was built in 1957, is scheduled for replacement. But a new bridge is still several years away, according to FDOT officials.

Despite an aging bridge and the potential for more rainfall with hurricane season still underway, Newsome said the bridge remains safe.

“The bridge is safe and being monitored until replacement starts around four years from now,” Newsome said.

The bridge is one of three low-level drawbridges serving Anna Maria Island that were built in the 1950s. Two of them —the Cortez Bridge and the Manatee Avenue Bridge — are set to be replaced by high-rise bridges.

The project, including road improvements, spans 1.94 miles from East Bay Drive in Holmes Beach to Perico Bay Boulevard along Manatee Avenue and is scheduled for construction in 2029, according to FDOT’s website .

The new bridge is expected to be built about 14 feet to the south of the existing bridge and will provide 65 feet of vertical navigational clearance, according to FDOT. Existing plans show it will consist of two 12-foot travel lanes in each direction with 11-foot shoulders for emergency vehicles to pass and 10-foot sidewalks on each side of the bridge.

Planned improvements include a pedestrian and bicyclist path under each end of the bridge, landscaping and lighting. FDOT also plans to collaborate with Manatee County Government to explore the construction of an artificial reef from recycled debris and improvements to the Kingfish Boat Ramp.

The project is expected to cost $138 million and is currently unfunded, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.