Beckett Bridge Replacement Project

Project Overview

The Beckett Bridge is a single-leaf rolling lift bascule bridge: a 40-foot section lifts by rolling along a curved track, moving fully out of the waterway to let boats pass. The Beckett Bridge was originally constructed in the 1920s and reconstructed in the 1950s to replace wooden structures with steel and concrete. Ongoing repairs kept the bridge in working condition for decades, but it can no longer safely and reliably support the weight of heavier vehicles (such as school buses and RVs). Additionally, the current bridge has no shoulders, no bike lanes, and the sidewalks along the bridge are only 22 inches wide.

Pinellas County conducted a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate the removal, rehabilitation or replacement of the existing Beckett Bridge over Whitcomb Bayou in Tarpon Springs. The study was conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements and included multiple public information meetings and a Public Hearing on Jan. 26, 2014.

On Jan. 25, 2016, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) issued Location and Design Concept Approval (LDCA) for the proposed location of the new bridge and the proposed conceptual design of a new two-lane single-leaf, rolling-lift bridge of a similar design to the existing bridge.

During the PD&E, the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) determined that the bridge was eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. As a result, a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was established on February 2, 2015, between the responsible agencies and the SHPO to address the specific mitigation requirements to offset adverse impacts to the historic bridge, which will be demolished. Those mitigation requirements have been incorporated into the bridge replacement project. The MOA also outlined the need for an Aesthetics Committee with representatives from the local community to ensure the new design pays homage to the historical and cultural significance of the bridge and the surrounding area. The Aesthetic Committee met four times and carefully reviewed several concepts before arriving at the final concept seen in the renderings below.

The approved PD&E Study allows for the replacement of the bridge with a new two-lane movable bridge. The new bridge will provide improved pedestrian and bicycle facilities and will meet current design safety standards. The bridge will provide approximately 7.8 feet of vertical clearance for boats traveling under the bridge (compared to 6 feet for the existing bridge) and 25 feet of horizontal clearance between the fenders. Just as before, unlimited clearance will be provided for boats with the bridge in the open position. The proposed new bridge will be constructed within the existing County right-of-way.

The proposed bridge includes two, 10-foot-wide travel lanes with 6.5-foot shoulders that can accommodate potential future bicycle lanes. The proposed bridge will be approximately 19 feet wider than the existing bridge and include 6.5-foot-wide sidewalks along both sides of the bridge. These sidewalks will connect along Riverside Drive to Chesapeake Drive, and along North Springs Boulevard to Venetian Court (on the south side of the road) and Pampas Avenue (on the north side of the road).

Proposed Bridge Renderings

Anticipated Schedule

• Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study: January 2012 – January 2016
• Design Completion: Fall 2026
• Construction: Summer 2027 – Summer 2029

Project Funding

This project is supported by the Penny for Pinellas and multi-modal impact fees.

Contact Us

Dana Parkinson
Project Manager
Public Works / Capital Improvements
14 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater, FL 33756
(727) 464-3640
dparkinson@pinellas.gov