Demolition of historic 12th Avenue bridge over Wares Creek has begun

Demolition of the 12th Ave. Bridge in the Wares Creek neighborhood began Thursday as part of a project to improve water flow and avoid flooding. The first couple days of demolition will focus on the removal of an architectural feature of the historic bridge which will be salavaged and reused on the new bridge. TIFFANY TOMPKINS-CONDIE/Bradenton Herald

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BRADENTON -- Demolition of the historic 12th Avenue bridge in the Wares Creek neighborhood began Thursday as part of a project to improve water flow and avoid flooding.

This is the second of three bridges to be rebuilt as part of a sister project to the $51.8 million Cedar Hammock-Wares Creek Flood project.

"It is all an integrated concept as part of the dredging of the creek," engineering section manager Jim McLellan said. "Without improvement to the bridges, it would create a 'pinch point.' By replacing them with structures that have more carrying capacity, it increases the creek's capacity to carry water, avoiding flooding."

The first couple of days of demolition will focus on removing the handrail of the historic bridge, which is being salvaged and reused on the new bridge.

"We have to maintain a component of the existing bridge, and the handrail is the easiest and the most visible," McLellan said.

Construction of the new bridge is scheduled to be completed by August. Work will then begin on the 14th Avenue bridge. Combined with a drainage upgrade, the work on the two bridges is expected to cost $2.4 million.

Half of the funding for this project is being provided by a grant from the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The rest has

been funded by a low-interest loan acquired by the city from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

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Demolition of historic 12th Avenue bridge over Wares Creek has begun