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Top Estimated Cost Of Fixing Friendship Trail Bridge: $82 Million

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By JAMIE PILARCZYK

Published: December 18, 2008

TAMPA - Preliminary estimates of the cost of repairing the partially closed Friendship Trail bridge range from $11 million to fix both ends of the structure to $82 million to knock down the bridge and build a new one.

The figures were released Wednesday at Hillsborough County Commissioner Rose Ferlita's request. A final assessment of the bridge's condition and estimated repair costs is expected in days, but Ferlita wanted preliminary cost estimates before a trail advocacy group meets tonight.

Friends of the Friendship Trail and Bridge will meet tonight to discuss the bridge's history, status and future. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at the Jan Kaminis Platt Regional Library, 3910 S. Manhattan Ave.

The partial closing came in early November after inspectors found some of the structure's concrete beams had disintegrated and material had fallen into Old Tampa Bay. The bridge once was a span of the Gandy Bridge.

Every year, about 500,000 bicyclists, in-line skaters, walkers and anglers use the Friendship Trail bridge, which extends 2.6 miles.

THE NUMBERS

Estimated costs of various repairs to the Friendship Trail bridge:

•Repair ends of bridge: $11 million

•Repair entire bridge: $30 million

•Replace entire bridge: $82 million

•Demolition: $13 million

Source: Kisinger, Ocampo & Associates Corp.

Reporter Jamie Pilarczyk can be reached at (813) 259-7661 or jpilarczyk@tampatrib.com.

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