This Guy Has A Plan For The Old Howard Frankland Bridge
One of the most used bridges in Tampa Bay is getting replaced but what to do with the original? This guy has a plan for the old Howard Frankland bridge.
If you’ve been driving on I-275, you’ve seen all the construction going on for the new Howard Frankland bridge. The new span is scheduled to open in 2025. Neil Cosontino has an idea for what to do with the original span that dates back to 1960. Instead of demolishing the old bridge, he believes that it should be saved. “I think it’s the wrong thing to do. I think we can re-purpose the bridge,” said Cosontino.
OK, but what is his vision? Cosontino believes that a canopy of solar panels should be built on the old Howard Frankland bridge. “In this case, we are generating money right, we are generating clean energy that money will help pay for the bridge,” said Cosontino.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has different plans for the span. FDOT thinks that it is cost-prohibitive to spend money for maintenance and upkeep. Instead, they plan to spend $35million to demolish the old span.
Cosontino doesn’t agree with the FDOT plan. He sees the bigger picture for the old Howard Frankland bridge. “It’s a 60 foot wide, two and half mile long. You know what we can do on that bridge? I mean, there is no end of the type of events and things we can do on the bridge, under the canopy, especially in the heat of the summer,” said Cosontino. He believes so much in the future potential for the old bridge that he sent a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Transportation to take a look at the issue.
[SOURCE News Channel 8]
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