Francis P. Whitehair Bridge | |
|---|---|
 The Whitehair Bridge in its open position | |
| Coordinates | 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 |
| Location | |
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The Francis P. Whitehair Bridge, also known as the Crows Bluff Bridge, was a double leaf bascule bridge located in Crows Bluff, Florida that carried State Road 44 over the St. Johns River. The original bridge on the site was constructed in 1917; replaced in 1955, and though it was previously expected to remain in service until the 2050s, [1] a new version of the bridge opened in September of 2023. [2]
History
The original Crows Bluff Bridge was a swing span bridge; constructed in 1917, [3] in 1926 it became a free crossing. [4] In 1954, a plan for construction of a replacement bridge was established; [5] the new bridge, dedicated to DeLand resident Francis P. Whitehair, opened on September 22, 1955. [6]
In the late 1980s and early 1990s the bridge was closed several times for repairs. [7] [8] [9]
A 1993 truck accident damaged the bridge, requiring repairs to its guardrails. [10] In 2006 a truck caused damage to the bridge's support beams in another accident; [11] the damage was repaired within a week. [12]
References
- ^ Williamson, Ronald (December 11, 2004). "Where two paths converge". The Daytona Beach News-Journal. Daytona Beach, FL. p. 1C. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ SR 44 over the St. Johns River Bridge (Florida Department of Transportation)
- ^ "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
Crossings of the
St. Johns River | ||||
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