Commission Votes to Delay Friendship Trail Bridge Demolition

TAMPA, Fla. - The Hillsborough County Commission voted Wednesday unanimously (7-0) to delay the demolition of the Friendship Trail Bridge.

A group fighting to save the bridge had asked for six months to conduct a study to determine the best plan of action. The group has proposed transforming the bridge into a park over the water with gardens, hotdog kiosks, an amphitheater and more.

A substantial amount of money would need to be raised for the project and most of that cash would have to come from the private sector.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Kevin Beckner led the effort to delay demolition of the Friendship Trail Bridge. “We don’t have all of the information we need to move forward today” said Commissioner Beckner, of the Bridge “and delaying the demolition gives our citizens the opportunity to tell us unequivocally what they want. This process will be good for the community in the long run, regardless of the outcome.”

The Commission had been set to select a company to demolish the bridge, but that decision has now been delayed. Commissioners’ offices received hundreds of calls and emails from citizens wanting to save the Bridge.