Repairs on Tuttle Avenue bridge over Phillippi Creek in Saraosta County to begin in July

Christian Casale, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·1 min read

Repairs to the Tuttle Avenue bridge over Phillippi Creek will begin on July 8 after it was damaged during the historic rainfall from the storm system that struck Sarasota County this month.

Sarasota County spokesperson Cole Washko said during repairs, traffic will be maintained with one lane going north and two lanes going south between Tanglewood Drive and Siesta Drive.

"Repairs are expected to take up to 30 days and will restore the area to pre-storm conditions," Washko said in an email. "Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians should reduce speed and use caution when traveling through the work area."

Sarasota County employees look at damage Wednesday morning near the Phillippi Creek Bridge where a seawall and sidewalk collapsed along Tuttle Ave. near the bridge in Sarasota. One lane of northbound Tuttle Ave. is closed during the repairs.
Sarasota County employees look at damage Wednesday morning near the Phillippi Creek Bridge where a seawall and sidewalk collapsed along Tuttle Ave. near the bridge in Sarasota. One lane of northbound Tuttle Ave. is closed during the repairs.

The bridge is just south of a roundabout near the South Gate Community Center that connects South Tuttle Avenue, Siesta Drive, and Valencia Drive.

The construction will be done by Gosalia Concrete Constructors, a Tampa-based contractor.

Sarasota County employees have closed down one lane of northbound Tuttle Ave. Wednesday morning as they work to repair damage where a seawall and sidewalk collapsed along Tuttle Ave. near the Phillippi Creek Bridge.
Sarasota County employees have closed down one lane of northbound Tuttle Ave. Wednesday morning as they work to repair damage where a seawall and sidewalk collapsed along Tuttle Ave. near the Phillippi Creek Bridge.

The bridge was last inspected by the National Bridge Inventory in July 2022. The NBI report classified the bridge as "Poor" and "Structurally Deficient." The deck and superstructure were found to be in poor condition and the bridge railings, transitions, and approach guardrail did not meet acceptable standards.

However, the overall structural evaluation found that the bridge "Meets minimum tolerable limits to be left in place as is."

A photo provided by Sarasota County shows the collapsed sidewalk along Tuttle Ave. near the Phillippi Creek Bridge Wednesday morning.
A photo provided by Sarasota County shows the collapsed sidewalk along Tuttle Ave. near the Phillippi Creek Bridge Wednesday morning.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Repair of storm-damaged Sarasota bridge over Phillippi Creek to start