Story Tools • • Date of Issue: January 25, 2007 Longboat Bridge late-night access denied next week Late-night travel between Bradenton Beach and Longboat Key will include a significant detour next week. Florida Department of Transportation officials said the Longboat Pass Bridge will be closed to vehicular and boat traffic from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Jan. 28 through Feb. 1 while workers replace the fender system on the span. Traffic will be rerouted to the New Pass Bridge during the repair work, adding an extra 30-plus miles to a motorist’s trip. Boaters hoping to pass through the draw will have to wait until workers are finished for the night. DOT officials said lighted message boards will be updated with information regarding the closures. According to information from the town of Longboat Key, "If work on the bridge is not complete by Feb. 1, the DOT will not begin work again until Feb. 4 so as not to interfere with weekend business."