Buckley Pass | Punta Gorda Isles | info and update about the PGI project
Channel: Waterfront Insights
Date: 2019-09-27

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Buckley's Pass, named after former Captain John Stanley "Jay" Buckley, is a Charlotte county project to connect the Bird Section of Punta Gorda Isles (PGI) canal system to the Alligator Creek Inlet. The new cut will provide a southern Inlet into PGI making boat passage out to Charlotte Harbor much shorter.  Without the pass, resident's of the Bird Section must slow motor all the way up to the Ponce Inlet for harbor access.  Buckley's Pass will also provide an inside passage protection from bad weather from Alligator Creek all the way up to the Peace River via Ponce Inlet.

The project officially started in April 2015.  On-site work started August 2019, and is scheduled for completion in February 2020.


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For more more information about Captain Buckley,

Captain John "Jay" Stanley Buckley (1937-2016) obituary
https://www.robersonfh.com/obituary/john-jay-stanley-buckley/

For more information about Buckley's Pass,

Charlotte County Project notes:
http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/government/city-projects/bicycle-pedestrian-infrastructure

Buckley's Pass (Additional Harbor Access) http://www.ci.punta-gorda.fl.us/Home/ShowDocument?id=9058

Charlotte County Boater Revolving Grant Application
https://www.charlottecountyfl.gov/boards-committees/mac/Site%20Documents/16-Buckleys-Pass.pdf

yoursun.com/charlotte/news/punta-gorda-breaks-ground-on-buckley-s-pass/article_b9753f8a-c8fd-11e9-8a54-df81b58abeaf.html

Hello and welcome back to Chris Mann's Waterfront insights
In this episode, we'll take a closer look at Captain John Buckley's Pass, which is under construction in the Bird Section of Punta Gorda Isles.
Stay tuned

The core of the Punta Gorda Isles canal system is serviced by two inlets
Tarpon inlet to the North
And Ponce inlet to the West
As of today, there is no Southern inlet
However, Buckley pass will fix this by providing Punta Gorda Isles Southern access to Charlotte Harbor via Alligator Creek.

The intent of the Buckley's pass canal project is, to construct a 60 foot wide by 1500 foot long navigable channel linking the interior waterway of Punta Gorda Isles 
With the unnamed canal North of Sea Eagle Drive, thus connecting the Bird Section of PGI to Alligator Creek 

The  graphic overlay shows approximately where Buckley's Pass is bein cut adjacent to River Bay Drive and Sea Eagle Drive

According to the grant fund documentation
The reason this project is beneficial to the boating community
Is it will provide a secondary access channel, that will allow boaters safe refuge from storms
It will accomplish this by opening up a protected passageway from Alligator Creek all the way to the Peace River

Completion of Buckley Pass will essentially create an bidirectional inside passage between Alligator Creek and Tarpon Inlet 
However, because of the Marion Street Bridge's13ft height restriction, end to end transit would only viable for small to midsize powerboats.

The Army Core of Engineers issued their permit in August 2018, and on-site work began in August 2019.  Once completed, it is estimated that over 15,000 cubic yards will be dredged.  This 3.1 million dollar project is scheduled for completion in February 2020

This view from the River Bay CanaI, shot in late September 2019, shows crews working diligently on the project with heavy-duty earth moving equipment and barges, and highlights the current progress underway.

This video wouldn't be complete if we didn't mention the the new pass's namesake, 
As you can see, Captain Buckley was very involved in the community, here are just a few of his highlights. 
To find out more about Captain Buckley and why he was so instrumental to the PGI boating community,
please explore the links in the description below

This was another waterfront insights brought to you by Christine Mann.
Christine Mann is a real estate agent for the Coldwell Banker Global Luxury office, located at Fisherman's village  in Punta Gorda
She is knowledgeable about the local waterways and is an experienced boater, both power and sail.

Tags:
Port Charlotte,waterfront living,SGC,PGI,South Gulf Cove, Punta Gorda Isles,sailing,powerboat,sailboat,real estate,Tarpon Inlet,fishing,Charlotte county,beaches,Buckly's Pass,realtor,Coldwell Banker