Tom Adams Bridge

Last updated
Tom Adams Bridge
Coordinates 26°56′03.80″N82°021′11.10″W / 26.9343889°N 82.3530833°W / 26.9343889; -82.3530833
CarriesCR 776 jct.svg CR 776 (Beach Road)
CrossesLemon Bay
Locale Englewood, Florida
Maintained byCharlotte County Public Works
Characteristics
DesignConcrete bridge with bascule span
Clearance above 20 feet (6.1 m)
History
OpenedOriginal bridge: 1927
Current Bridge: 1965
Statistics
TollNone
Location
Tom Adams Bridge

The Tom Adams Bridge is a bridge in northern Charlotte County, Florida. It is a double-leaf bascule bridge that carries Beach Road (CR 776) from the mainland in Englewood to Sandpiper Key with another bridge connecting the route to Manasota Key. The bridge is named for Thomas Burton Adams Jr., who served as Secretary of State of Florida and Lieutenant Governor. [1] The Tom Adams Bridge is one of two bridge crossings providing access to Manasota Key, with the other crossing existing further north in Sarasota County.

History

The first set of bridges at the site connecting Englewood to Manasota Key via Sandpiper Key were built privately by the Chadwick family in 1927. The Chadwick family, who owned large amounts of property on Manasota Key, charged a 50 cent toll to cross the bridge. [2] The bridges later came under control of Charlotte County in the 1930s. [3]

By the late 1940s, the original east bridge was in bad condition. The bridge was rebuilt in the early 1950s largely using the same pilings. The reconstruction was complete in 1952, and the bridge was officially named the Leo Wotitzky Bridge. [3] It was named after Florida Congressman Leo Wotitzky, who lobbied for the reconstruction of the bridge. [2]

The current Tom Adams Bridge was built in 1965. [4] The bridge included a drawbridge because Lemon Bay had since become part of the Intracoastal Waterway. [3]

After the Tom Adams Bridge opened, Charlotte County Commissioner Bill Anger successfully lobbied to keep parts of the previous bridge as fishing piers. Though in the 1980s, the piers were closed due to deterioration, and a new pier was built on the same footprint on the east side. [5] The pier is named for Bill Anger. [6] Some of the former bridge's pilings can still be seen in the water near the bridge and pier.

The bridge connecting Sandpiper Key to Manasota Key was replaced with the current structure in 1980. This bridge is officially named the Swepson Bridge after the founder of the Lemon Bay Conservancy. [3]

The Tom Adams Bridge was heavily rehabilitated in 2018, which included the construction of a new bridge tender house along with other improvements. [7]

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References

  1. ↑ Cortes, Josephine (25 Jan 1965). "Officials Dedicate Tom Adams Bridge". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  2. 1 2 "From defeat to defender". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. 13 September 2006. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Harris, Diana (13 January 2016). "Some name confusion of bridges". Port Charlotte Sun. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  4. ↑ "BEACH ROAD over LEMON BAY ICWW". Des Moines Register. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  5. ↑ Craven, Brian (18 May 1983). "Anger Fishing Pier Declared Safety Hazard And Closed". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  6. ↑ "Anger Fishing Pier". Charlotte County. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "Tom Adams Bridge". Historic Bridges. Retrieved 31 July 2024.
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