Stop the Mega Bridge from devastating Cortez
My name is Joe McClash. We need the community's support to help fund our legal battle against FDOT's irresponsible decision to replace the Cortez bridge with a 65 foot mega structure that would severely impact the Historic Village of Cortez and change our environment forever. There is another choice; a 35 foot drawbridge that could be built within the existing footprint not requiring a giant wall of concrete extending several hundred feet into Cortez. And an option that would dramatically reduce the visual impacts. Your funds would assist in paying the for legal cost of mandated mediation, and insuring we provide the best legal argument to win against the arrogance of FDOT when it forced a 65 foot bridge down our throats. Over 70 percent of the community rejected this option, instead favoring either rehabilitation of the existing bridge or the 35' Drawbridge replacement.
The 65 foot fixed bridge requires an estimated $4million of property for a new access road and a stormwater pond for a ramp extending several hundred feet into the Village of Cortez .
All of this pictured below is not needed for the 35 foot drawbridge that also reduces a significant amount of bridge openings compared to the 17 foot bridge and the best part it preserves Cortez from this mega structure.
The Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage known as F.I.S.H. has recently voted to join the challenge. This triggers the requirement to hire an attorney that has been retained and will cost around $25,000. FISH; a non-profit is dedicated to the preservation of Cortez. You can either donate on this site or mail any donations to: Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage, P.O. Box 606 Cortez, FL 34215.
I hate asking for money but we need help. Any amount would be appreciated.
Thank you for any support you might be willing to provide!
Joe
It's not too late to stop this from happening here. This is a bridge FDOT forced down another community. 
