of traffic (two in each direction) during peak travel hours, with lane closures occurring at night during off-peak hours. These lane closure schedules will be coordinated with Manatee County and the Cities of Bradenton and Palmetto. Thrie beam will be added to provide more protection so a vehicle crossing the bridge won't crash into the river.

Further coordination will be necessary with Manatee Memorial Hospital and Manatee County Emergency Services during the final design phase to ensure uninterrupted access to the hospital is maintained throughout the construction period. Coordinating with local emergency service providers is critical for facilitating accommodation and planning for emergency vehicle routes during construction. It is anticipated that detours via US 41 Business (Green Bridge) instead of US 41 and the DeSoto Bridge could result in additional travel time of approximately 12 to 30 minutes, depending on the time of day. More details on the phasing can be found in Section 7.1.17.

Construction of the northbound half of the DeSoto Bridge will begin independently of the existing bridge, with a shift of approximately 41 feet to the east. This adjustment creates a 10-foot space between the new northbound section and the existing bridge, allowing traffic to flow normally on the existing bridge and roadway while the new bridge is built without any disruption. Once the northbound half is completed, temporary striping will be applied to provide four lanes — two in each direction — enabling traffic to move to the new bridge. Subsequently, the old DeSoto Bridge will be dismantled, and the southbound half of the new bridge will be constructed and connected to the northbound section.

Traffic shifts and temporary pavement with an overbuild will be used to construct and maintain landside traffic patterns. Construction of the shared-use paths and sidewalks will be incorporated in the phasing plans. More details on the phasing can be found in Section 7.1.18.

Construction of the Build Alternative is expected to have moderate impacts related to property access. Construction is not anticipated to adversely impact listed species so long as adherence to project commitments, construction precautions, and conservation measures is maintained. Also, construction is not expected to have any significant impact on water quality, noise, or air quality. The project will adhere to the FDOT Standard Specifications for Road and Bridge Construction, along with the implementation of a Stormwater Runoff Control Concept and Best Management Practices to minimize or eliminate potential construction impact.

A Comparative Alternatives Evaluation Matrix (Table 5-3) serves as a critical analytical tool for systematically comparing the performance set of proposed project alternatives, including the No-

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