Mike Williams, co-host of the BLAB TV program “Catchin’ Fish†tells IN he is starting a campaign to create a new fishing bridge in Pensacola Bay—by transforming one that already exists.
“I’m going before the Gulf Breeze and Pensacola City Councils to present a plan to use the (current Three Mile Bay Bridge) as a fishing bridge.â€
Williams says that instead of FDOT closing the bridge to traffic by the end of the decade, which officials have recently said will have to be done due to faults in its infrastructure, it should be turned into much longer and wider fishing pier than what was opened earlier this year.
In 2007, Santa Rosa County opted out of using FEMA hurricane money to rebuild the fishing bridge torn down by Hurricane Ivan. Escambia County decided to use the funds for other projects and used county funds to build a 2,500-foot pier that opened in March.
“It would be a waste to knock that bridge down. Before (Hurricane) Ivan, we used the old Bay Bridge and FEMA gave money to both cities to rebuild it for fishing. In Pensacola we only have a quarter of what we had. Gulf Breeze didn’t replace anything. That’s a lot of fishing area they never replaced.â€
Williams says he plans to pitch the idea to his viewers tomorrow night during the program, which starts at 6 p.m.