When the topic is the troubled Memorial Causeway Bridge, marina merchants' reactions range from alarm to confidence.
By LORRI HELFAND
Published April 18, 2004
[Times photo: Jim Damaske]
The sun sets behind the new Memorial Causeway Bridge under construction. It has wavered in heavy winds. Some columns are severely cracked. And one section hovers more than 8 inches over another.
CLEARWATER - When the new Memorial Causeway Bridge is finally finished, some motorists might pause a cautious moment before crossing it.
Mayor Brian Aungst, however, won't be one of them.
Even though the bridge, still under construction, wavered in heavy winds, some of its support columns are severely cracked and one of its sections hovers more than 8 inches over another, he'll still eagerly cruise over it.
"Even if I'm not the mayor, I'll still volunteer to be the first one to drive over it," he said.
But a number of locals aren't so confident.
"Unless they tear the whole thing down and start over, I wouldn't even cross over it," said Debbie Tanner, 46, who owns Beautiful Baskets in downtown Clearwater.
If the contractor doesn't start from scratch, Tanner said she'll detour over the Belleair Causeway to make deliveries to Clearwater Beach.
For well over a year, the $69.3-million Memorial Causeway has made headlines for the headaches it has created for officials.
It has also been a frequent subject of conversation along the Clearwater Municipal Marina, said Bob Hamilton, 61, captain of Phantom Sportfishing.
"It seems like there's always a problem. Really, the bridge has had problems from the start," Hamilton said.
In December 2002, crews used explosives to drop an 80-foot section of the bridge span after it fell a foot and twisted. In February, one part of the roadway fell 7 inches when scaffolding underneath it buckled. And on Thursday, Department of Transportation officials told city leaders that fixing the gap in the misaligned sections might damage it even more.
Hamilton, who has worked at the marina about 22 years, said he doesn't care how the problems are fixed. He just wants the bridge to be safe.
"If the thing sways in a 50 mph wind, who the heck's going to drive over?" he said.
Unlike Tanner, Jon Ames, co-owner of Clearwater Boat Rentals, said he'll probably brave the new bridge. But he suggests officials keep the current drawbridge around for a while.
"I don't think they should tear down the old bridge for five years - just in case," Ames, 34, said.
Some are also apprehensive about the contractor, PCL Civil Constructors, because of troubles it has had with a few other Florida projects.
Last Tuesday, part of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway collapsed, making it the fourth major Florida project built by PCL to be plagued by high-profile problems.
It's not clear whether PCL bears any fault in the latest incident. But not everyone is comforted by that.
"Is that the same company that did the bridge that caved in? Okay I'm really nervous now," said Jenni Bowen, 29, of Dunedin, a saleswoman at the marina's Collector Cove.
She remembers the contractor's proposal to fix the cracked columns with grout and epoxy.
"It should be started over," Bowen said. "It doesn't make any sense to me to try to fix something that's not even done."
In fact, PCL might take part of it down. Or it may bolster the most severely cracked column with more steel and extra concrete surrounding about 15 feet of its base.
Plus, the DOT hired three outside experts to help review other repair strategies for more damage on other parts of the bridge, according to Jim Moulton, director of transportation operations with the DOT.
In light of past efforts, like the much maligned roundabout, city officials are aware that the troubled bridge could reflect on Clearwater's reputation, even though it's a state project.
"Naturally I'm concerned. Anything that's associated with the city of Clearwater impacts our image in some way, hopefully in a favorable way," said City Manager Bill Horne.
So far, the bridge's trials and tribulations don't make Clearwater look good, and that can affect his business, said Ames' partner, Tim Harris.
"What's going on with the bridge and the collapse of the other one? We can't afford any more bad publicity," Harris, 33, said.
Hamilton's not worried about that.
"I think the bridge is a local thing, and we don't have a big local business. I would think the average tourist driving down from up North doesn't know much about the bridge and its problems," he said.
Horne said the DOT assured him the bridge problems would be resolved.
"They're taking their time making sure everything is done right and the right things are being done, and this bridge will not be certified until it is ready for use," Horne said.
Some folks, like Dan Beach, say they trust officials' promises.
"They're not going to put up a bridge that's not going to be safe. At least I hope so," said Beach, 39, who owns Harbor Barber in the Clearwater Municipal Marina.
And then there's Al Cole, owner of the marina's Bait House. He's sure everything will turn out fine in the long run.
"I'm not concerned about it in any way, shape or form," Cole, 65, said.
- Lorri Helfand can be reached at 445-4155 or at lorri@sptimes.com Times Staff Writer Jennifer Farrell contributed to this report.
