At a public hearing held Monday night at the Naples Town Gym, residents got a chance to voice their opinions, questions, and concerns about the new causeway bridge under consideration by the Department of Transportation (MDOT).

Though the project is several years off from construction, MDOT engineers placarded the gym with design sketches, aerial views of the causeway and photos of the current bridge and asked residents for their input.

“The big reason we’re here is the condition of the current bridge,” said project manager Jim Wentworth at the meeting. “It’s beyond maintenance. It’s at the point that it needs to be replaced.”

A hydrolic drawbridge will replace the old “swing” bridge, an aging “dinosaur” as Wentworth calls it. The bridge is a vital part of the Route 302 corridor. MDOT estimates that 13,000 cars per day pass over the bridge and expects that number to continue to rise as population sprawls into the Lakes Region.

According to bridge designer Michael Wright, the new bridge is proposed to be 28 feet “curb to curb.” That includes two 12-foot-wide lanes and 8-foot shoulders.

Though the project is still in “the conceptual phase,” Wright discussed three different options for its alignment. One option would have the bridge curve further north across Long Lake. Slanted parking spaces along the causeway would be replaced by off-street parking lots in various nearby locations like the junction of Route 114. The other two options would maintain the same crossover for the bridge, but raise the height five to seven feet.

This alignment would allow the “majority of boats” – with a maximum height of 12 or 14 feet depending on the design – to pass under the drawbridge without it having to be drawn open.

Residents react

Many residents spoke out against the possibility of losing parking on the causeway, parking they say is crucial to tourism. Residents also asked whether the new bridge would reduce the number of times the bridge had to open in a day. During the height of the summer, traffic is backed up all the way to Route 11 when the current swing bridge is open, one resident noted, and sometimes impedes emergency vehicles.

“Hopefully, we’ll be able to reduce the openings,” Wentworth said. “Obviously the bridge we’re building is for the big boats. Most boats will be able to just go under (without it opening).”

While the bridge is under construction, a temporary detour bridge will bend out into Long Lake, cutting across a corner of waterfront property owned by the Bay of Naples Condos, eventually reconnecting with Route 302.

This means that the Songo River Queen II, an authentic Mississippi paddleboat that reigns as the biggest boat in Naples, will not be able to take tourists on trips down through the Songo Locks, but instead will have to stay on Long Lake while the temporary bridge is in place.

Rumors had speculated as to what impacts of the new bridge would have on the community, but MDOT assured residents Monday night that there will be “minimal” impact on nearby businesses and that the work crews will be required to accommodate these businesses during construction.

Jean Bigelow, who lives in the Bay of Naples Condos with her husband Jim, came to the meeting to learn about the economic impact and how they might be affected as residents. She hopes that, when the new bridge is complete, there will be a sign to let motorists know when the bridge will be open.

“If they knew the times, people might choose to shop (on the causeway) than just sit there in their cars,” Bigelow said.

Construction of the temporary bridge is scheduled to begin in fall of 2008 and construction of the new drawbridge in 2009. The cost is estimated at $11 million. Currently, MDOT only has a couple million put aside for the project, but Wentworth and his engineers are hopeful that the rest of the money can be allocated for their new two-year work plan.

Richard Cebra, state representative and owner of the Steamboat Landing Mini Golf on the Naples causeway, is optimistic about the change and how the new bridge will affect Naples and his own business which he plans to hand over to his son someday.

“This isn’t a bridge project for now,” Cebra said. “This is a bridge project for the next generation.”

Lakes Region Development Council has had their eye on the bridge project since discussions began. They have helped residents start up a grassroots downtown revitalization committee called “Naples Main Street.” The group hopes to coordinate a renewal of the downtown area with the bridge project.

“I’m just pleased to see the turnout and that some of the rumor hysteria has been mitigated,” said John Shattuck, president of the Development Council, at the public hearing.

The Naples Main Street group meets every third Friday of the month at the Naples Town Office. Their next meeting is Friday, Nov. 18 at noon and all Naples residents are welcome to attend.

Jim Wentworth of the Department of Transportation talks to Naples residents about the new causeway bridge.