Charlotte County Residents Celebrate Reopening of Gillot Boulevard Bridge
CHARLOTTE COUNTY, Fla. — After nearly three years of closures, detours, and frustration, Charlotte County residents are celebrating the long-awaited reopening of the Gillot Boulevard Bridge, which had collapsed into the Myakka River.
A Bridge That Crumbled into the River
The bridge’s condition had steadily worsened until it finally gave way, leaving the community cut off and forcing emergency services, school buses, and families to navigate lengthy detours.
Local resident Larry Harrison described the damage vividly.
“It looked just like Niagara Falls. And now look at it,” Harrison told WINK News.
He added that erosion was so severe that even his yard and driveway were collapsing.
“I could look underneath my driveway, because there was nothing left,” Harrison recalled.
Nearly Three Years of Waiting
Harrison said it took exactly two years and eleven months before real progress was made. By July, when construction wrapped up, the mood in the neighborhood shifted to celebration.
“They’re all hollered Merry Christmas while I come out here… and they start singing Christmas carols to me,” Harrison said, describing how construction crews marked the completion. “The day they finished, they come knocked on the door and said, ‘We want you to be the first to drive up and down this road.’”
Safety Concerns During Closure
For residents, the bridge’s collapse meant more than just inconvenience. One neighbor emphasized that safety was compromised throughout the closure.
“It was insane. There was not an ambulance being able to come around here. The school kids around here too. It was all jacked up for them. There’s 15 kids every morning that have never been there before,” the neighbor explained.
Community Gratitude
With the bridge now fully restored, residents expressed relief and gratitude.
“I emailed WINK News, and you responded back, and then, all of a sudden, we have a new road. It’s amazing what having a voice can do and it can accomplish things,” one resident said.
Neighbors also thanked Charlotte County officials for completing the repair project in just six weeks once work began.
Do you think local governments should prioritize infrastructure repairs like bridges more quickly to prevent long-term community disruption? Share your thoughts at SaludaStandard-Sentinel.com.
