The Hernando Desoto Bridge is a bridge carrying U.S. Highway 41 (US 41) and US 301 over the Manatee River between Palmetto and Bradenton, Florida. The Desoto Bridge is 40 feet (12 m) tall and carries four lanes. It is one of two bridges connecting Bradenton and Palmetto.[2] The other is the Green Bridge located approximately one-half of a mile (0.80 km) downstream.
Hernando DeSoto Bridge | |
|---|---|
 View of Desoto Bridge from Bradenton Riverwalk | |
| Coordinates | 27°30′13″N 82°33′47″W / 27.503533°N 82.563088°W |
| Carries | 4 lanes of   US 41 / US 301 |
| Crosses | Manatee River |
| Locale | Palmetto and Bradenton, Florida |
| Official name | Hernando DeSoto Bridge |
| Other name(s) | DeSoto Bridge |
| Named for | Hernando de Soto |
| Owner | FDOT |
| Maintained by | FDOT |
| ID number | 130053 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Girder |
| Material | Concrete, steel |
| Total length | 2,334.4 ft (712 m) |
| Width | 62 ft (19 m) |
| Longest span | 105 ft (32 m) |
| No. of spans | 33 |
| Load limit | 65 short tons (59.0 t) |
| Clearance below | 40 ft (12 m) |
| No. of lanes | 4 |
| History | |
| Opened | 1957 |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 66,500 (2018)[1] |
| Toll | None |
| Location | |
 | |
History
editThe Desoto Bridge was built in 1957 in an effort to realign US 41 and US 301 through Bradenton and Palmetto. Prior to 1957, those routes crossed the Manatee River a short distance downstream on the original Green Bridge (part of which has become a fishing pier after the Green Bridge was replaced in 1986).[3][4]
Future
editFlorida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is evaluating several options on replacing the bridge to increase its traffic capacity.[5] More than one-third of vehicles crossing the bridge is pass-through traffic, drivers who do not have the cities of Bradenton or Palmetto as a point of origin or destination.
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Florida Bridge Information – 2018 4th Quarter" (PDF). Florida Department of Transportation. October 1, 2018. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ "US-41/US-301 over Manatee River 2nd St E". National Bridge Inventory data. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ "Green Bridge Fishing Pier". Bradenton Gulf Islands. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ "Business US-41 (SR-45) over Manatee River". National Bridge Inventory data. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
- ^ White, Dale (December 14, 2018). "DeSoto Bridge, River Road highlight transportation priorities". Herald Tribune. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
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