CLEARWATER - Pinellas County is set to receive $34-million to replace the aging Belleair Beach Causeway, about twice as much as local officials had been expecting, thanks to Rep. C.W. Bill Young, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee.
The appropriations were part of a $388.4-billion spending bill passed by Congress on Saturday.
The award eases the burden on the county, which planned to cover up to $15-million of the the $37-million causeway's construction costs using Penny for Pinellas tax funds.
"I was actually pleasantly surprised," said County Administrator Steve Spratt.
Belleair Bluffs Mayor Chris Arbutine also was pleased by the generous appropriation.
"It's almost the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle of bridges that needed to be completed," he said.
Young, a Largo Republican, said Florida's stormy season reinforced the importance of having a secure causeway, which connects Belleair Shores and Belleair Bluffs.
"Pinellas County has a lot of bridges. We learned the importance of evacuation routes, and this is a very important evacuation route for the beaches, especially the upper bridges," Young said.
The current bridges, which were completed in 1950, have outlived their original life expectancy of 50 years and no longer meet evacuation standards.
Young said the 1.67-mile fixed-span bridge, which will have a 74-foot clearance, likely will be more convenient for motorists than the current drawbridge.
The design includes two bridges: one over the intracoastal and another, smaller bridge over the relief channel.
The project's price tag includes design costs, which already have been allocated locally from Penny for Pinellas funds, Spratt said.
"With the amount of money we had previously earmarked for the project, this will certainly allow for us to get it done," Spratt said.
The county hopes to begin construction on the bridges by mid 2006 and expects them to be finished in 18 months to two years.
Spratt said meeting that deadline may have been a challenge if the county faced more of the financial burden itself.
"It's pretty gratifying to be able to do good things for your district," said Young, who has a reputation for using his clout to direct federal money to Florida and the Tampa Bay area.
