Construction Work Begins On Columbus Drive Bridge

From Hillsborough County Government Online:

Hillsborough County has begun work on rebuilding the 85-year-old Columbus Drive Bridge. The swing bridge carries traffic over the Hillsborough River, connecting West Tampa and Tampa Heights. Drivers who use this bridge are encouraged to start identifying detour routes around the bridge, as the construction will cause delays.

The project is expected to be completed by Spring 2012. The total budget for the project is $8.6 million.

Lane closures have already begun on the bridge. The project will proceed in two phases:

1. One lane will be intermittently closed northbound or southbound until approximately November.
   
   
2. Afterward, the bridge will close entirely for 90 days to allow the contractor to open the drawbridge and perform replacement work on its components.

The County has built stringent requirements into its contract with the contractor to ensure compliance to meet the deadline. 

The bridge is one of only two existing bobtail swing bridges left in Florida and was granted historic designation in 2006.The complete rehabilitation of the Columbus Drive Bridge is required as it has outlived its normal useful life span, and needs to be upgraded to current standards.  When the work is completed, the bridge will be restored to its original functionality and historical appearance.

If residents have any questions or concerns, call the Hillsborough County Public Works Department at 813-635-5400 or visit hillsboroughcounty.org/publicworks/traffic/columbus/.