{{short description|Bridge over Manatee River, Florida, United States}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2018}} {{Infobox bridge | name = Fort Hamer Bridge | image = Fort_Hamer_Bridge.jpg | image_upright = | alt = | caption = The Fort Hamer Bridge in 2018. | coordinates = {{coord|27|31|15|N|82|25|42|W|type:landmark|display=title,inline}} | mapframe-zoom = 14 | carries = 2 lanes of Fort Hamer Road, pedestrians, and bicycles | crosses = Manatee River | locale = Parrish, Florida | official_name = Fort Hamer Bridge | other_name = | named_for = Fort Hamer | owner = Manatee County | maint = Manatee County | heritage = | id = 134123 | website = {{URL|forthamerbridge.com}} | design = Box girder | material = Steel, concrete | material1 = | material2 = | length = {{convert|2318|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} | width = | height = {{convert|32|ft|m|0|abbr=on}} | depth = | mainspan = {{convert|144|ft|m|0|abbr=on}}<ref name="ENR"/> | number_spans = 18 | piers_in_water = | load = | clearance_above = | clearance_below = | lanes = 2 | life = | electrification = | architect = | designer = | contracted_designer = | engineering = AECOM (initially URS before acquisition) | builder = Johnson Brothers Corporation | fabricator = | begin = {{Start date|2015|03|19}}<ref name="HeraldTribune"/> | complete = August 2017 | cost = $23.5 million<ref name="FortHamerWebsite">{{cite web |last1= |first1= |title=Quick Facts |url=http://forthamerbridge.com/ |website=Fort Hamer Bridge |accessdate=March 21, 2018}}</ref><!-- Note the $32 million stated on various sites consists of road improvements associated with the bridge.--> | open = {{Start date and age|2017|10|18}} | inaugurated = {{Start date|2017|10|18}} | traffic = 15,900 (2017)<ref name="FDOT">{{cite web |title=Florida Bridge Information – 2018 4th Quarter |url=https://fdotwww.blob.core.windows.net/sitefinity/docs/default-source/maintenance/str/bi/2018-4th-quarter.pdf |website=Florida Department of Transportation |date=October 1, 2018|access-date=January 10, 2019 }}</ref> | toll = None }} '''Fort Hamer Bridge''' is a bridge that spans the Manatee River between Lakewood Ranch and Parrish. It was built in 2015 and completed in 2017 by Johnson Brothers Corporation and was designed by AECOM (initially as URS before acquisition).<ref name="HeraldTribune"/> The name of the bridge comes from the former fort of the same name that resided nearby the bridge during the Seminole Wars.
==History== A bridge over Manatee River was first proposed by the Manatee County Board of Commissioners on September 9, 1909.<ref name="HeraldTribune"/><ref name="ManateeCo">{{cite web |title=Fort Hamer Bridge opens to traffic, connecting Manatee County's fastest growing areas |url=https://www.mymanatee.org/news___events/archived_news/fort_hamer_bridge_opens_to_traffic__connecting_man |agency=Manatee County Government |accessdate=March 22, 2018 |date=October 17, 2017}}</ref> The county proposed a $250,000 road bond, {{Inflation|US-GDP|250000|1909|fmt=eq|r=-3}}<!--Government estimate cost = using US-GDP for inflation estimate-->, to pay for construction of the bridge.<ref name="HTT">{{Cite web |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20140713/fort-hamer-bridge-battle-has-long-history |title=Fort Hamer Bridge battle has long history |last=White |first=Dale |date=July 13, 2014 |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |access-date=June 5, 2018}}</ref> This proposal was abandoned due to opposition and lack of funds. It was proposed again by the County Commission in 1989 and added in the initial adoption of the County's Comprehensive Plan on May 11, 1989.<ref name="CompPlan">{{cite web |title=Comprehensive Plan |url=https://www.mymanatee.org/home/government/departments/building-and-development-services/planning-zoning/comprehensive-planning-section/comprehensive-plan.html |agency=Manatee County Government |accessdate=March 22, 2018 |date=March 19, 2018}}</ref>
Construction of the bridge broke ground on March 19, 2015. The bridge opened to vehicular traffic on October 18, 2017 after it was temporarily open a month prior as an evacuation route for Hurricane Irma.<ref name="HeraldTribune">{{cite web |last1=White |first1=Dale |title=Long-awaited Fort Hamer Bridge opens to traffic |url=http://www.heraldtribune.com/news/20171018/long-awaited-fort-hamer-bridge-opens-to-traffic |website=Sarasota Herald-Tribune |accessdate=March 22, 2018 |date=October 17, 2017}}</ref>
==Accolades== The bridge was ranked No. 7 on ''Roads & Bridges'' Top 10 Bridges for 2017. The list compromises of bridges in North America and rates bridges based on project challenges, impact to the region, and scope of work.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/article193794994.html |title=Fort Hamer Bridge makes magazine's list for top North American projects |last1=Jones Jr. |first1=James A. |website=Bradenton Herald |date=January 9, 2018 |access-date=September 26, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.roadsbridges.com/awards/top-10-bridges/2017 |title=Top 10 Bridges for 2017 |website=Road & Bridges |access-date=September 26, 2018}}</ref>
The project was also awarded "Highway/Bridge Best Project" in ''ENR'' as part of ''ENR Southeast's 2018 Best Projects''.<ref name="ENR">{{cite web |title=Highway/Bridge Best Project: Fort Hamer Bridge |url=https://www.enr.com/articles/45668-highwaybridge-best-project-fort-hamer-bridge |website=ENR |date=October 23, 2018 |access-date=January 10, 2019}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Bridges of Florida}} {{Crossings navbox |structure = Crossings |place = Manatee River |bridge = Fort Hamer Bridge |bridge signs = |upstream = Rye Road Bridge |upstream signs = |downstream = Trooper JD Young Bridge |downstream signs= 25px }}
Category:Road bridges in Florida Category:Bridges completed in 2017 Category:Concrete bridges in the United States Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Manatee County, Florida Category:Bridges over the Manatee River