PALMETTO, Fla. -- There is a push for another road race across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. 

  • Organizer pushing for another road race across Skyway
  • Shane Henry in talks with the City of Palmetto
  • Sunshine 10k a huge success with more than 7,000 runners

This race would be called the Skyway Half Marathon and, according to its organizer, new backers may help the event get closer to reality.

After many failed attempts with Manatee County, race organizer Shane Henry has been in talks with the City of Palmetto. 

A sticking point has been the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Specifically, the closing of the bridge that would occur for the race. 

In March, the Sunshine 10k became the first race ever held on the Skyway Bridge. 

But long before that actually took place, Henry ,a Manatee County resident, had been working to organize a 13.1-mile New Year's Day race with a route that would include the iconic bridge.

But five years of negotiations failed to produce a race. Part of the problem was that he couldn't get backing from Manatee County commissioners to help get approval from the Florida Department of Transportation to close the bridge. 

Closure of the bridge for a road race would have to be authorized by FDOT.

Now, he is meeting with Palmetto officials a second time. So far, Palmetto officials have been interested in being involved in a road race. Henry has said his event would benefit area charities - as did the Sunshine 10k. 

The Sunshine 10k was a huge success with more than 7,000 runners participating.