The Tom Adams Bridge is a bridge in northern

Charlotte County, Florida Charlotte County is a U.S. county located in southwestern Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 186,847. Its county seat is Punta Gorda. Charlotte County comprises the Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is i ...

. It is a double-leaf

bascule bridge A bascule bridge (also referred to as a drawbridge or a lifting bridge) is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances a span, or leaf, throughout its upward swing to provide clearance for boat traffic. It may be single- o ...

that carries Beach Road ( CR 776) from the mainland in Englewood to Sandpiper Key with another bridge connecting the route to Manasota Key. The bridge is named for Thomas Burton Adams Jr., who served as

Secretary of State of Florida The secretary of state of Florida is an executive officer of the state government of the U.S. state of Florida, established since the original 1838 Constitution of Florida, state constitution. Like the corresponding officials in other states, th ...

and

Lieutenant Governor A lieutenant governor, lieutenant-governor, or vice governor is a high officer of state, whose precise role and rank vary by jurisdiction. Often a lieutenant governor is the deputy, or lieutenant, to or ranked under a governor — a "second-in-comm ...

. The Tom Adams Bridge is one of two bridge crossings providing access to Manasota Key, with the other crossing existing further north in

Sarasota County Sarasota County is a county located in Southwest Florida. At the 2020 US census, the population was 434,006. Its county seat is Sarasota and its largest city is North Port. Sarasota County is part of the North Port–Bradenton–Sarasota, F ...

History

The first set of bridges at the site connecting Englewood to Manasota Key via Sandpiper Key were built privately by the Chadwick family in 1927. The Chadwick family, who owned large amounts of property on Manasota Key, charged a 50 cent toll to cross the bridge. The bridges later came under control of Charlotte County in the 1930s. By the late 1940s, the original east bridge was in bad condition. The bridge was rebuilt in the early 1950s largely using the same pilings. The reconstruction was complete in 1952, and the bridge was officially named the Leo Wotitzky Bridge. It was named after Florida Congressman Leo Wotitzky, who lobbied for the reconstruction of the bridge. The current Tom Adams Bridge was built in 1965. The bridge included a drawbridge because Lemon Bay had since become part of the

Intracoastal Waterway The Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is a Navigability, inland waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts of the United States, running from Massachusetts southward along the Atlantic Seaboard and around the southern tip of Florida, the ...

. After the Tom Adams Bridge opened, Charlotte County Commissioner Bill Anger successfully lobbied to keep parts of the previous bridge as fishing piers. Though in the 1980s, the piers were closed due to deterioration, and a new pier was built on the same footprint on the east side. The pier is named for Bill Anger. Some of the former bridge's pilings can still be seen in the water near the bridge and pier. The bridge connecting Sandpiper Key to Manasota Key was replaced with the current structure in 1980. This bridge is officially named the Swepston Bridge after the founder of the Lemon Bay Conservancy, Dr. Emil Swepston. The Tom Adams Bridge was heavily rehabilitated in 2018, which included the construction of a new bridge tender house along with other improvements.

References

{{Bridges of Florida Roads in Charlotte County, Florida Concrete bridges in the United States Girder bridges in the United States Road bridges in Florida Transportation buildings and structures in Charlotte County, Florida