Indian River Bridges: Difference between revisions

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A boat unable to pass under the bridge would signal the tender, who was in a shack hanging off the bridge's side, to open the drawbridge so they could pass through. In less populated areas, the drawbridges were unattended at night, and boats would anchor to await the bridge tender's return the next morning.
A boat unable to pass under the bridge would signal the tender, who was in a shack hanging off the bridge's side, to open the drawbridge so they could pass through. In less populated areas, the drawbridges were unattended at night, and boats would anchor to await the bridge tender's return the next morning.
==Causeways==
The Indian River lagoon does not have a typical river current, it's water is only moved by wind, and a minor tidal flow.
Earthen berm causeways contribute to the Indian River's health problems by impeding the lagoon's water flow, limiting it's ability to flush out stagnant water containing algae, bacteria, dead seagrass and pollutants.
Recently the river's communities have recognized the harm earthen berm bridges cause, and are requiring high rise bridges that span the entire river.
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==Bridge Info Table==
==Bridge Info Table==
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<div class="irltabletitle" style="text-align:left">Indian River Bridge Info</div>
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==Bridge List==
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<div class="irlcollapsetitle">Indian River Bridge List</div>
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<div class="irlcollapsetext">Bridges are listed from North to South.</div>
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==Web Links==
==Web Links==
* [https://infobridge.fhwa.dot.gov/ FHWA - InfoBridge Data Explorer]
* [https://infobridge.fhwa.dot.gov/ FHWA - InfoBridge Data Explorer]

Revision as of 07:30, July 12, 2021

Indian River Lagoon Encyclopedia
IRL Encyclopedia
Table of Contents

Bridges and Causeways crossing the Indian River lagoon.

Old Wabasso Bridge - Indian River County
Old Wabasso Bridge - Indian River County

Until 1920, there were only two bridges spanning across the Indian River, one in Brevard County's Cocoa and the second in Martin County's Hobe Sound.

On Labor Day in 1920, a new wooden Vero Bridge opened and access to the ocean was available to all who lived on the Vero mainland.

For boat traffic, a bridge tender, who lived in a house near the middle of the crossing, would open the metal swing span by hand. Tolls were charged to cross the bridge, ranging from 5 cents for pedestrians, 10 cents for horses and 35 cents for delivery trucks.[1]

In 1925, construction began on the first wooden bridge across the Indian River Lagoon in Eau Gallie. On February 22, 1926, the bridge opened to vehicle traffic headed to a sand trail at Canova Beach. There was no railing on the bridge for a year after its construction. There are no records that anyone fell off the bridge during this time.[2]

Max Brewer Bridge, Titusville, Brevard
Max Brewer Bridge, Titusville, Brevard

Post War 1940's the U.S. government funded construction of new bridges across the Indian River.

As Florida's population grew, more traffic headed to the barrier islands, and modern bridges created from steel and concrete were constructed. These early concrete and steel bridges used earthen berms to partially span the river, with a lift or swing drawbridge in the middle to allow tall boats to pass.

A boat unable to pass under the bridge would signal the tender, who was in a shack hanging off the bridge's side, to open the drawbridge so they could pass through. In less populated areas, the drawbridges were unattended at night, and boats would anchor to await the bridge tender's return the next morning.

Bridge Info Table

Indian River Bridges
Toggle columns: Water - County - Article
Name Water Road County Article
Name Water Road County Article
Alma Lee Loy Bridge (info) Central Indian River CR656 Indian River
Eau Gallie Causeway (info) North Indian River SR518 Brevard
Ernest Lyons Bridge (info) South Indian River A1A Martin
Max Brewer Bridge (info) North Indian River SR406 Brevard Max Brewer Bridge
Merrill Barber Bridge (info) Central Indian River SR60 Indian River Merrill Barber Bridge
NASA Causeway Indian River (info) North Indian River SR405 Brevard
Pineda Causeway (info) North Indian River SR404 Brevard
Sebastian Inlet Bridge (info) Central Indian River A1A Brevard Sebastian Inlet
Wabasso Bridge (info) Central Indian River SR510 Indian River Wabasso Bridge