The Fort Hamer Bridge (Photo courtesy Paul Oakes, Realtor®)
A game changer is making its way into east Manatee County. The Fort Hamer is nearly completed, linking Parrish to Lakewood Ranch and connecting residents on both sides of the Manatee River to businesses, restaurants, medical facilities, country clubs, schools, and more. Originally proposed 108 years ago, the bridge has been a long-time coming but it wasn’t until 1989 that the Fort Hamer Bridge was included in the Manatee County Comprehensive Plan. At a cost of $32.7 million, construction began in March 2015 to build a two-lane bridge that spans 2,300 feet and will include paved bike lanes, oversized shoulders, and a sidewalk on the east side. According to the Manatee County website, construction is scheduled for completion on Saturday, September 23rd. A ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 8:30am and the bridge will be opened to traffic later that day. [gallery type="slideshow" size="large" link="file" ids="25776,25775,25781,25779,25777,25778"] Up until now, travel from the north to south and visa versa has been cumbersome. Residents from the Parrish side have had to take Fort Hamer Road to Golf Course Road to N. Rye Road to Upper Manatee River Road, a 25 minute loop in the wrong direction to go less than a mile. For those east of the Interstate, the bridge will also offer an alternate travel route to I-75, which can sometimes run into congestion issues. This is especially appealing for residents of Lakewood Ranch who commute into St. Petersburg or Tampa. "We are so very excited about the opening of the Fort Hamer bridge," said Pam Ali, Manager of the Michael Saunders & Company Lakewood Ranch office. "I think that this new north/south corridor will be so beneficial to both the residents of Parrish as well as Lakewood Ranch." Lakewood Ranch merchants expect to see an uptick in business, with Parrish's population of nearly 20,000 opened up for a more direct commute south. Now, access to restaurants, shops, movie theatres, championship golf, the famous Sarasota Polo Club and the ever-popular Music on Main is easier than ever. Some of the Parrish neighborhoods that are sure to benefit from this new bridge include: The Islands on the Manatee River, River Wilderness, River Plantation, Kingsfield, Chelsey Oaks, and Cross Creak. How excited is the community for this new connector? The Inaugural Fort Hamer Bridge Run took place on Saturday, August 26th. Turn out for the event topped 2,600, with 1,000 more participants than expected. Agents from Michael Saunders & Company were in attendance, sponsoring the bridge run and partaking in the day's athletic celebration. Beyond the convenience the bridge will offer, the scenic nature of the area is beloved by many and it's expected this new corridor will attract those who want to experience the beauty of the region. "I think that not only will the drive be enjoyable, but people will come from near and far to walk and run the bridge," explained Ali. "The sun will rise and set along the river and who wouldn't want to be out to experience that?" To learn more about Parrish real estate and Lakewood Ranch real estate and find out whether there’s a home for sale that’s right for you, contact one of our agents in the Bradenton office or Lakewood Ranch office today.
