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Beckett Bridge Conditions of the Memorandum of Agreement

The Section 106 Documents, which address the impacts to the historic bridge and proposed mitigation, have been approved. On February 2, 2015, the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was signed by Pinellas County, the Florida State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) to address the specific mitigation requirements to offset adverse impacts to da Department of Transportation (FDOT), the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the State Historic the historic bridge, which will be demolished. The final Environmental Document was submitted to FHWA for review and approval. On January 25, 2016, FHWA issued Location and Design Concept Approval (LDCA) for this project. As such, FHWA approved the proposed location of the new bridge (along the existing alignment) and the proposed conceptual design of a new two-lane single-leaf, rolling-lift bridge of similar design as the existing bridge. The proposed bridge will provide 7.8 feet of vertical clearance over the navigation channel at the fenders in the closed position and 25 feet of horizontal clearance between the fenders. The proposed bridge will be approximately 19 feet wider than the existing bridge.

Stipulations outlined in the MOA include the following:

  • The design of the new bridge will be a single-leaf, rolling-lift bridge type of similar design and scale to the historic Beckett Bridge.
  • Pinellas County will create an aesthetics committee consisting of representatives from the adjacent community, City of Tarpon Springs, Tarpon Springs Historical Society, and FHWA, to serve in an advisory capacity regarding appropriate design elements for the replacement bridge during the design phase.
  • Prior to salvage and demolition of the bridge, Pinellas County will document the existing bridge in accordance with the Historic American Engineering Record standards. This documentation includes preservation of existing bridge plans and drawings, photographs and a written narrative about the bridge’s history. Archival copies of the documentation are submitted to the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service and the SHPO. Copies are provided to FDOT, FHWA and the Tarpon Springs Historical Society.
  • Pinellas County will ensure representative, significant engineering elements from Beckett Bridge will be identified and salvaged. These elements may be incorporated into the design of the new bridge, or displayed in a location within the vicinity of the new bridge. The reuse of these historic elements will be determined by Pinellas County in coordination with the aesthetics committee
  • The existing historic bridge plaque will be removed and stored in an area protected from damage until it can be incorporated into the new control house that will be constructed as part of the new bridge. The bridge plaque will be placed on the new control house so that it is visible to pedestrians.
  • Pinellas County will ensure that information regarding Beckett Bridge, which is suitable for inclusion in a website for educational purposes and/or suitable for use on a mobile device, such as the “What was there” or “Next Exit History” apps, is developed. This information will provide a historic account of the bridge to educate the public about its history after the new bridge is in place

Obtaining Location and Design Concept Approval (LDCA) was the goal of the Project Development and Environment “PD&E” Study. By conducting the study in compliance with the with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), transportation officials were able to make project decisions that balanced engineering and transportation needs with social, economic, and natural environmental factors. NEPA analysis of environmental impacts is required for all federally funded projects. LDCA paves to way for the County to seek Federal funding for the bridge construction. The project is in the design phase and is included in the County’s approved Capital Improvement Plan.