Save or Replace: Blackburn Point Bridge's Fate Debated

0:00Sarasota County leaders are debating the fate of the Blackburn Point Bridge, a nearly 100-year-old historic structure listed on the national. Register of historic places. It's a single-lane swing bridge that's way past its prime, and officials are weighing three-pass forward, keep it as is with no changes, replace it. With another swing span, or go for a modern drawbridge. The bridge has needed endless fixes over the decades, and now those repairs themselves are failing. Think, band-aids on band-aids. County engineers say it's no longer safe or reliable for daily use, pushing them toward a full overhaul to handle traffic better. Locals are split down the middle sum, crave the upgrade for smoother commutes, while history buffs fight to save this slice of old Florida charm. A petition against tearing it down has racked up more than 700 signatures, with folks praising the Osprey areas escaped from urban sprawl. The county's holding what could be the last public meeting on Thursday, June 11th, from 4.30 to 6pm at the Church of the Holy Spirit, on 129 South to Miami Trail in Osprey.

1:07Though kickoff for presentation at 5.15pm, then open it up for questions and feedback, no sign of needed. Commissioners will get the final word later this year, so if you're in the area, this is your shot to weigh in before the bridge's future gets locked. In, that's your update from Tampa Bay News today, powered by AI. I'm Cory with the story.