PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Neighbors in a Palm Harbor village have been voicing their frustration over delays and debris due to ongoing bridge construction, and now, Pinellas County says they may move to terminate the contract with the builder, who is “in default.”
10 Tampa Bay first told you about the issues facing the Baywood Village community last week, when residents who live near the Crosswinds Bridge voiced their concerns at a Pinellas County Board of Commissioners meeting and then reached out to 10 Tampa Bay for answers.
In a new statement, Pinellas County says the project remains a top priority and that completion of the bridge is on hold because “the contractor has not met the terms of the contract,” adding they will move to terminate the contract at the end of this month if a resolution is not reached.
“The County has made numerous attempts to work with the contractor and its insurance company to get the project back on track, but those efforts have been unsuccessful," the update reads. "We have notified the contractor that they are in default, and unless a resolution is reached, staff will ask the Board of County Commissioners to terminate the contract at its Jan. 30 meeting.
"We know this situation has been extremely frustrating for residents, and our intent is to complete the bridge as quickly as possible. We will keep the community updated as the process moves forward."
The first phase of the $4 million county-paid-for project was to replace the Westwinds Bridge, which was completed in 2021. The second phase is to replace the nearby Crosswinds Bridge, where construction continues many months later.
The delay has become a running joke in the neighborhood, with one resident posting signs at the end of the bridge, the latest reading “sea levels projected to rise 12 inches in the next 30 years. We may need a TALLER bridge by the time this one is done!”
It's not only the delay in construction irking everyone, but what's been in their community since.
“This is what we've labeled as the debris field, and this is the corner of someone's home," Annetta Speicher said, pointing to the end of the bridge. "It used to be a beautiful lawn but now it's full of rubble and construction debris, the barrels and this asphalt.”
In the center of town is more stuff, rusted rebar, barrels and a diesel gas tank that was removed after our reporting last week.
“I appreciate 10 Tampa Bay coming out here and doing a story because I think it's really helped some build some of the communication between the residents and the county,” said Graham Jankura, who lives nearby.
While neighbors are grateful to know more about the direction their bridge is heading, they’re hoping for a swift resolution to clear up what’s left behind.
“We're very grateful and we're getting a little bit of feedback now, but we're getting no action,” said Bill Sumansky. “It's great to see somebody turn the light on at the end of the tunnel, but we don't if we are getting any closer to the light at this point."
10 Tampa Bay will stay on top of this story when the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners meets next week.