Treasure Island Seeks State Takeover of Causeway Bridge

An estimated 6.2 million vehicles cross the Treasure Island Causeway every year, a volume that places a heavy financial burden on local property owners.

City commissioners on Oct. 20 authorized staff to begin negotiations with the Florida Department of Transportation regarding a potential asset swap. The proposal involves the state assuming ownership of the bascule bridge while the city takes over maintenance of its segment of Gulf Boulevard.

The initiative originated with FDOT, according to Public Works Director and Assistant City Manager Gary Volenec. He confirmed the agency's interest with its multimodal administrator on Oct. 19, the day before the commission meeting.

The primary motivation for the swap is cost reduction. Residents currently pay a half-mill property tax to fund bridge maintenance, a responsibility that includes structural rehabilitation, hydraulic cylinder replacement, and electrical system upkeep. The city budgets millions of dollars annually for these operations.

“As you are aware, the bridge is an expensive item to maintain and operate,” Volenec told commissioners. “Gulf Boulevard is not an easy thing to maintain; (however,) it’s substantially less expensive for the citizens. I think it’s a concept worth exploring.”

Commissioners voted to authorize a nonbinding letter from Mayor John Doctor to FDOT, permitting staff to conduct fact-finding meetings. These discussions will evaluate the pros and cons for residents and delineate ongoing maintenance responsibilities. The board moved quickly to support the effort.

“I don’t have any issue with trying to see if we can lighten the load,” Doctor said. Commissioner Chris Clark expressed strong support, stating he was “a hundred percent for it” because the road would cost less than the bridge. Commissioner Tammy Vasquez urged staff to proceed “in the fastest way possible,” while Commissioner Arden Dickey called it “a great idea.”

This is not the first time a nearby beach city has considered assuming control of Gulf Boulevard. In 2025, then-St. Pete Beach Mayor Adrian Petrila proposed taking over the road in his jurisdiction. His plan included charging tolls at island entry points, a strategy that faced public objection. Current Mayor Scott Tate defeated Petrila in the subsequent election.

The Treasure Island Causeway is an 87-year-old structure that opened in 1939 to facilitate development and tourism. Motorists paid tolls for decades until the fee was eliminated in 2007. Engineering studies in 2002 classified the original bridge as structurally deficient, leading to a closure in 2003 for a $44.4 million replacement.

Construction on the new fixed approach bridges concluded in 2004. One leaf of the new drawbridge reopened in June 2006, and the full project was dedicated on Aug. 25, 2007. The 1,014-foot span retains its art deco styling but features a computerized drawbridge operated via a touch-screen monitor. When closed, the bridge provides 21 feet of vertical clearance. Southland Construction, the builder, noted the project won the FTBA/FDOT Major Bridge Award for Best in Construction in 2007 and ranked No. 7 on Roads & Bridges magazine’s top 10 list that year.