Beginning Tuesday at 5 in the morning, the Columbus Drive Bridge will close for repairs.
Beginning Tuesday at 5 in the morning, the Columbus Drive Bridge will close for repairs.
TAMPA (FOX 13) -
The Columbus Drive Bridge
in West Tampa has reopened, as of this
afternoon after five months of extensive repair and renovation.
The 86-year-old Bridge required complete rehabilitation because
it had outlived its normal useful life span, and needed to be upgraded to
current standards.
Ongoing work had periodically closed lanes of the Columbus Drive Bridge
since May 2011. The bridge had been completely closed since Feb. 21.
This closure was required to allow the contractor to open
the bobtail swing bridge and perform replacement work on its components.
The total budget for the project is $8.75 million. The Columbus Drive
Bridge is one of only two existing
bobtail swing bridges left in Florida,
and was granted historic designation in 2006.
The bobtail swing bridge carries traffic over the Hillsborough River,
connecting West Tampa and Tampa
Heights. Like the Platt Street
Bridge, the Bridge will
be restored to its original functionality and historical appearance upon
completion.
