Matlacha bridge endcap fight ends
Two endcaps now part of artificial reef
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Matlacha bridge endcap fight ends Video by fox4now.com
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MATLACHA - The fight to save two historic Matlacha Bridge corner stones is over.
Two markers - one saying "1968" and the other "Matlacha Pass" - have been at the center of a contentious battle.
One group wanted to use them as part of an artificial reef in Charlotte County. The local chamber of commerce wanted one of the end-caps to preserve at a nearby park.
The two sides couldn't come to an agreement. Early Thursday, the markers were taken out to sea for the reef.
"They wanted to preserve the history of the Matlacha Bridge and at the end of the day they forgot about Matlacha - at least on land," said local artist Leoma Lovegrove, who is president of the chamber of commerce. "We would have preserved it a lot longer. [Now] It will be covered with moss."
The chamber says they are thrilled to still be getting 24 tons of bridge material which will be painted and turned into a public art project.
Matt Grant
mgrant@fox4now.com
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