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Bridge's history draws to a close as a new one is built

Mayor Mary Maloof is on record as the one who paid the last toll on the old Treasure Island Causeway before it was shut down.

By KATHY SAUNDERS
Published January 4, 2006

TREASURE ISLAND - Butch Ellsworth drove his white pickup truck over the Treasure Island Causeway several times before sunrise Tuesday to commemorate the life of the drawbridge and celebrate its replacement.

Ellsworth, a former city commissioner who was instrumental in securing financing for the new bridge, described it as "the greatest thing that has happened to this city in 75 years."

That's what city officials want future leaders to be able to say about the $65-million structure scheduled for completion in June.

The 66-year-old bridge was closed for good Tuesday at 6:30 a.m. so that contractors can begin dismantling the structure.

Portions of the concrete will be preserved as a monument in the park at the city community center. The rest will be hauled into Tampa Bay to a reef being developed by Manatee County.

Mayor Mary Maloof made a ceremonial last crossing atop the city's antique firetruck and paid the $1 toll, 50 cents for each direction, for the last time. She gave a commemorative gold coin to city Transportation Director Hal Bruce and presented the toll receipt to Barbara Blush, secretary/treasurer of the Treasure Island Historical Society. Blush was joined at the tollbooth by Carol Malkin, head of the city's beautification committee.

The tollbooth is coming down along with the rest of the old bridge to make room for the southern two lanes of the new structure. The northern half, which already is under construction, includes a tower for the bridge tender and a 10-foot-wide pedestrian and bicycle lane.

On Tuesday, Matt Habiger and Paul Young, workers with contractor Johnson Brothers-Obayashi Corp., barricaded the bridge so that workers could begin taking the asphalt off the old bridge.

"I want them to start that today," said city Public Works Director Don Hambidge. He and the bridge design engineers have been closely monitoring the deteriorating structure for the past couple of years, hoping the bridge would stay safe until Tuesday's closing. Last year, they imposed a 4-ton weight limit on the structure to help slow the deterioration.

"There were times when we weren't sure we'd make it to this day," said Jim Phillips of E.C. Driver & Associates of Tampa, who drove up just as the bridge closed. "We're very relieved."

The waterway will remain open to boats during the construction, although some captains may have trouble navigating the opening at times when only one leaf is operational.

Until the first half of the new bridge opens, drivers will have to travel about six minutes out of their way, through St. Pete Beach or Madeira Beach.

"It's just a few minutes extra and I think once people are used to it, they will be fine," Maloof said.

Ellsworth, who helped convince Congress in 2004 to award the city $50-million toward the new bridge, said he is concerned about the impact of the construction on local businesses. He said the Treasure Island Chamber of Commerce is planning to organize several events next spring "specifically to bring people to the downtown area."

Blush, who served on the commission with Ellsworth when the new bridge was designed, said the inconveniences "are just part of progress."

At 23 feet above the mean high waterline, the new Florida vernacular-themed drawbridge will be about 18 feet higher than the existing structure and require about one-third the number of bridge openings as the existing bridge.

One lane of traffic in each direction is scheduled to open in June. The final completion is expected in 2007.

The new bridge, which is designed to last 75 years, will look much like the two approach bridges on the east and west sides of the drawbridge. The city received a state grant for much of the $15-million it paid to rebuild the approach bridges in 2004.

In accepting the grant, the city agreed to abolish the tolls which used to pay for maintenance. In the future, the city will be looking for ways to raise about $1-million a year for upkeep on the bridge.

The original Treasure Island Causeway, which opened Nov. 15, 1939, cost just over $1-million to build.

[Last modified January 4, 2006, 01:07:18]