Ridgemoor residents press commission to alter FDOT plan for Brooker Creek bridge replacement

Dozens of residents from Ridgemoor and nearby Tarpon Woods told the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners on Oct. 21 that the Florida Department of Transportation and county Public Works plan to replace the Brooker Creek bridge on Ridgemoor Boulevard would create an unacceptable safety risk and prolonged traffic bottlenecks.

Those concerns were raised during the public‑comment period by homeowners, volunteer emergency workers and a retired civil engineer who said the project as described could leave their neighborhoods cut off during storms and add minutes to response times for fire and emergency medical services.

The complaints centered on a construction approach described to residents in project briefings: demolishing one of the two existing lanes and using the remaining lane for alternating two‑way traffic while the bridge is rebuilt. “We believe the current replacement plan will not only create an unmanageable bottleneck of traffic for two years, but it will also create potential risks and endanger our families,” said resident Randy Burr, who told commissioners he represents “thousands of homeowners” who oppose aspects of the plan.

Speakers said the project could coincide with multiple hurricane seasons and that the remaining single lane would put entire neighborhoods at risk if the partially demolished structure became unstable. “If the partial bridge demolition causes Ridgemoor Boulevard to be closed, the only other route in and out for approximately 3,000 residents is Tarpon Woods Boulevard,” Burr said. Pam Marron, another Ridgemoor resident, told commissioners that FDOT project managers had warned partial demolition could lead to a total shutdown and that contractors would not provide a written guarantee that the bridge would remain open during construction.

Retired civil engineer Edward Gerrelott and Eastlake Fire Chief Jason Genaro (cited by speakers) raised emergency‑response concerns. Gerrelott said daily traffic includes school buses and heavy vehicles and urged the county to require “large penalties in the construction contract if one lane of the bridge is not maintained at all times.” Several speakers requested on‑site county monitoring during peak hours, cameras to observe the temporary traffic signals and consideration of accelerated construction techniques, including prefabricated elements, to shorten the projected timeline.

Speakers also asked the county to seek a formal extension of the federal grant that funds the project. “Senior Public Works and FDOT personnel stated that delays could jeopardize their access to $3,700,000 in federal funds available for this project,” Gary Reid said, asking whether Pinellas could negotiate an extension so safer alternatives could be evaluated.

Commissioners did not take action on the project at the meeting; FDOT staff were present in the audience, and county staff said they would continue to engage with residents and the project team.

Residents urged specific next steps: a written guarantee from the contractor that at least one lane would remain safely available; temporary on‑site staffing to operate and monitor signals and gates during the early phase; routine camera monitoring; consideration of accelerated construction or prefabrication to reduce the on‑site duration; and a negotiated federal funding schedule that would allow safer alternatives to be considered. Several speakers also made the point that if the project failed while under partial demolition, the resulting full closure could require establishing a costly satellite fire station in the neighborhood to maintain safe response times.

Commissioners asked staff to keep the board apprised of follow‑up discussions with FDOT. The commission did not vote on any motion related to the bridge during the Oct. 21 public meeting.

Community members who spoke said they were submitting documents and signed endorsements to become part of the official record and asked the board to treat the matter as urgent given repeated past flooding and the proximity of the next hurricane season.