| Anticipated Permits | |
| Coordinating Agency | Permit |
|---|---|
| US Coast Guard | Bridge Permit |
| Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) | Individual Environmental Resource Permit (ERP) |
| Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) | National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit |
The Pond Siting Report (PSR), scheduled to be completed in June 2026, identified stormwater management facilities (SMF) and floodplain compensation (FPC) site alternatives. Proposed drainage improvements will include the construction of SMF and FPC sites. Stormwater runoff will be collected and conveyed to proposed SMF sites via a series of roadside swales for water quality treatment and water quantity attenuation. The report has determined the preferred stormwater pond sites are Dry Pond 1N Alt 1, Dry Pond 1S Alt 1, Dry Pond 1A Alt 1, Dry Pond 2 Alt 1, VB-3A Alt 1, VB-3B Alt 1, VB-3C Alt 1, VB-3D Alt 1, VB-3E Alt 1, Wet Pond 3 Alt 1, Dry Pond 4 Alt 1, Swale 5S Alt 1, Wet Pond 5N Alt 1, Dry Pond 5NA Alt 1, 2&3, Swale 6S Alt 1, Wet Pond 6NA Alt 1, Dry Pond 6N Alt 1&3, Wet Pond 7A Alt 1, Dry Pond 7 Alt 1,2&3, Dry Pond 8A Alt 1 & 2, Wet Pond 8 Alt 1, VB-9A Alt 1&2, VB-9B Alt 1&2, VB-9C Alt 1&2, VB-9D Alt 1, VB-9E Alt 1, VB-9F Alt 1, Wet Pond 9D Alt 1, Wet Pond 9E Alt 1, Wet Pond 9F Alt 1, Baffle Swale 10 Alt 1&2, and Wet Pond 10 Alt 1.
The preferred floodplain pond sites for the Build Alternative are FPC 1 Alt 1, FPC 2 Alt 1, and FPC 3 Alt 1. These alternatives were then compared based on relocations and community impacts; environmental impacts, including wetlands, upland habitat, and protected species involvement; petroleum and hazardous materials contamination; and economic factors, including right-of-way costs. Maps showing the alternative SMF and FPC sites are provided in the PSR, which is available in the project file.
Section 3.4.1 of the FDOT Drainage Manual (2025) requires sea-level rise to be incorporated into the design of new bridge structures. The methodology is based on long-term historical trends from NOAA tidal stations, using straight-line regression extrapolation to estimate future conditions. The nearest appropriate NOAA long-term tidal gauge for this analysis is the Clearwater Beach, Florida station (Station ID: 8726724).
The FDOT-required straight-line regression rate for this station is 4.22 millimeters per year, referenced to the NOAA Mean Sea Level (MSL) datum for the 1983–2001 tidal epoch. In accordance with FDOT guidance, sea-level rise was calculated from the midpoint of the tidal epoch (1992) and projected through the end of the proposed bridge's service life, which assumes a 75-
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