In one flood-prone St. Petersburg neighborhood, recent storms Helene and Milton left residents relying on a single-lane, half-constructed bridge as their only exit from an island cul-de-sac.

Originally scheduled for completion in December 2023, the $3.6 million project faced significant delays when American Empire Builders (AEB) defaulted on their contract. Consequently, city council members unanimously approved an additional $3.25 million on October 31 to finalize the bridge replacement. The project is now under the supervision of Lakeland-based Denson Construction.

“This has been a thorn in the side of the Tanglewood neighborhood,” noted Councilmember Ed Montanari, who represents the district. “That bridge is the only access they have to the city.”

The Miami-based AEB was awarded the contract in December 2021 for the bridge on Bayou Grande Boulevard, connecting Tanglewood with Shore Acres, the city’s lowest-lying neighborhood. However, by spring 2023, the 75-year-old Tanglewood bridge project had significantly stalled.

Tanglewood residents, comprising at least 96 households, have expressed frustration over the lack of progress and reliance on a single temporary lane. Despite receiving several deficiency notices, AEB left the site in disarray, with the bridge approximately 40% complete nearly three years after receiving the contract.

“When the contractor basically walked off the job, we were left with a half-completed bridge,” Montanari said. “There is one lane and some traffic lights. And this process … just takes a lot of time.”

After negotiations, AEB’s surety bond company agreed to provide up to $1.16 million to fund Denson’s new $3.25 million contract. “The city doesn’t have a whole lot of leverage when things get to the surety,” Montanari explained.

“The neighborhood is very happy we’re finally moving forward on this bridge.”

Transportation Design Manager Evan Birk highlighted that this was the first time the city had formally defaulted a contractor of this size and transitioned to a different contractor. He credited the legal team for navigating this complex situation.

“We saw their trajectory, and we were trying every trick we have in the book in order to get them to do their job and complete their contract,” Birk said of AEB.

He assured the council that Denson was “fully vetted” and is certified by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as a Disadvantaged Business Enterprise. City and company officials have already scheduled a pre-construction meeting.

Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz suggested improving the city’s contractual language regarding terminations, and City Attorney Jewel White agreed to update the documents. However, White cautioned, “Even if our contract language gave us the right to terminate if the surety didn’t agree that was reasonable, then they wouldn’t cover it.”

The traffic issues caused by AEB will continue to affect the area. The company is also responsible for the delayed 9th Street South (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street) bridge replacement, which began in April 2021 with a $6 million contract awarded by FDOT.

FDOT’s project website acknowledges the delays and is working with AEB and their surety company on a recovery plan. The website, however, no longer provides an estimated completion date.

(Photo credit: FDOT)