Francis P. Whitehair Bridge
Whitehair Bridge | |
---|---|
The Whitehair Bridge in its open position | |
Coordinates | 29°00′32″N 81°22′56″W / 29.0088°N 81.3821°WCoordinates: 29°00′32″N 81°22′56″W / 29.0088°N 81.3821°W |
Carries |
SR 44 (two general purpose lanes) |
Crosses | St. Johns River |
Locale | Crows Bluff, Florida |
Official name | Francis P. Whitehair Bridge |
Maintained by | Florida Department of Transportation |
ID number | 110603 |
Characteristics | |
Design | Double leaf bascule bridge |
Total length | 525 feet (160 m) |
Clearance below | 17 feet (5.2 m) |
History | |
Opened | September 1955 |
The Francis P. Whitehair Bridge, also known as the Crows Bluff Bridge, is a double leaf bascule bridge located in Crows Bluff, Florida that carries State Road 44 over the St. Johns River. The original bridge on the site was constructed in 1917; replaced in 1955, it is expected to remain in service until the 2050s.[1]
History
The original Crows Bluff Bridge was a swing span bridge; constructed in 1917,[2] in 1926 it became a free crossing.[3] In 1954, a plan for construction of a replacement bridge was established;[4] the new bridge, dedicated to DeLand resident Francis P. Whitehair, opened on September 22, 1955.[5]
In the late 1980s and early 1990s the bridge was closed several times for repairs.[6][7][8]
A 1993 truck accident damaged the bridge, requiring repairs to its guardrails.[9] In 2006 a truck caused damage to the bridge's support beams in another accident;[10] the damage was repaired within a week.[11]
References
- ↑ Williamson, Ronald (December 11, 2004). "Where two paths converge". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. p. 1C. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ "Old span". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. September 17, 1967. p. 9A. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ "Two Volusia-Lake County Bridges Scheduled to Be Free of Charge". Evening Independent. St. Petersburg, FL. May 29, 1926. p. 12A. Retrieved 2012-09-02.
- ↑ "Bids Asked On Bridge". The Sunday News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. March 21, 1954. p. 1. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ Paulson, Morton (September 23, 1955). "2 Counties Joined By New Span". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. p. 1. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ "Bridge repairs halt morning traffic". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, FL. November 2, 1988. p. 3. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ "Electrical bridge fails; forces 20-mile detours". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, FL. October 18, 1990. p. B3. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ "Whitehair Bridge closing temporarily for repairs". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. October 31, 1991. p. 5C. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ "Bridge damaged when trucks collide". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. July 13, 1993. p. 2B. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ Kiesler, Sara (March 29, 2006). "Truck rams bridge, shuts S.R. 44 lane". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. p. 1C. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ↑ "Whitehair Bridge lanes reopen". Orlando Sentinel. Orlando, FL. March 31, 2006. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Crows Bluff Bridge. |