Shands Bridge
![]() | Parts of this article (those related to First Coast Expressway and Florida State Road 23) need to be updated. (March 2016) |
Shands Bridge | |
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![]() Westbound on the Shands Bridge (2016) | |
Coordinates | 29°59′00″N 81°37′00″W / 29.9833°N 81.6167°W |
Carries | 2 general purpose lanes (SR 16)) |
Crosses | St. Johns River |
Locale | Green Cove Springs, Florida |
Official name | Alvin G. Shands Bridge |
Maintained by | Florida Department of Transportation |
ID number | 780056 |
Characteristics | |
Design | steel stringer/multi-beam or girder bridge |
Total length | 2030.6 meters (6662 feet) |
Width | 10.4 meters (34 feet) |
Longest span | 39.6 meters (130 feet) |
Clearance above | 13.7 meters (45 feet)(vertical) x 27.7 meters (91 feet)(horizontal) |
History | |
Opened | October 30, 1963 |
Location | |
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The Shands Bridge is a highway bridge over the St. Johns River near Jacksonville, Florida. The span was first opened in 1929. It was located just north of the current span, crossing from Orangedale to the present Shands pier on the west side of the river. On October 7, the eastern approach to the bridge was eroded by Hurricane Matthew, so the bridge was closed to traffic for an indefinite time period. On October 9, the bridge reopened.[1]
The current bridge was dedicated on October 30, 1963, and features a beam-type construction for a total of two lanes. The bridge is part of SR 16 and until the building of the I-295 Buckman Bridge was the only crossing of the St. Johns River between Jacksonville and Palatka.
In 2004, proposals were made to replace or upgrade the span. Problems cited include increasing traffic in the Clay County and St. Johns County areas, safety, and the inability of large boats to travel upriver. One plan would put a new bridge north of the existing one, connecting to extensions of SR 9B and SR 23. In the fall of 2005, the railings of the bridge were upgraded to solid concrete barriers in an effort to reduce over-bridge fatalities.
First Coast Expressway Replacement
![]() | This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (March 2016) |
Gallery
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View of the old bridge from the new one
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Westbound on Shands bridge with current barriers
See also
References
- ^ "Shands Bridge reopens after storm". jacksonville.com. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
External links
- Bridges completed in 1929
- Bridges completed in 1963
- Bridges over the St. Johns River
- 1929 establishments in Florida
- Steel bridges in the United States
- Girder bridges in the United States
- Road bridges in Florida
- Bridges in Jacksonville, Florida
- Southern United States bridge (structure) stubs
- Florida building and structure stubs
- Florida transportation stubs