Share this story | More Date of Issue: March 10, 2010 Boaters await Kingfish ramp lighting Last November, boaters pulling in and putting out boats after dark at Kingfish Boat Ramp were complaining about a lack of lighting. And there still are no lights. Other improvements to the ramp are complete, including a sidewalk along Manatee Avenue and an additional 23 spaces for trucks with trailers and an additional 17 spaces for other vehicles. But construction of lighting will not begin until the Florida Department of Transportation approves the Manatee County permit application. Ed Giddens, a reviewer for permitting with the DOT, said the DOT received the lighting application Feb. 4. The application was forwarded to traffic operations Feb. 11, and the DOT has 30 days from that date to make its first review. “Usually what happens on lights,” Giddens said, “is they may have problems with drop voltage, or several different things we look at.” Giddens said DOT engineers would have another 30 days after March 11 to make their final review, before approving or denying the permit. “The DOT rarely doesn’t approve a county project like this,” Giddens said.