Swing bridge builders gather to throw hats in ring, increased toll rates to go into effect October 1

BY LIZA STROUT - Representatives from six companies were in the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Administration building conference room on Tuesday. They were there to learn the details of the upcoming project to replace the swing bridge on the Boca Grande Causeway.

The project, currently estimated to cost around $22 million, will be the final step in the effort to replace all three of the bridges onto the island.

The new project is expected to begin while the construction of the new center bridge is underway, though the south bridge should be completed some months before.

Archer Western, Superior Construction, GLF Construction, PCL Construction, Orion Marine Construction and American Bridge all sent representatives to the mandatory meeting, so one of these companies will begin construction of the new swing bridge in 2013.

Archer Western and Superior both have offices in Jacksonville, GLF Construction is in Miami and PCL Construction, Orion Marine Construction and American Bridge are located in Tampa. Orion Marine is the company currently working to replace to center and south bridges.

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