The new State Road A1A North Causeway Bridge in Fort Pierce is officially open.
The bridge opened to traffic early May 15, ahead of the 8 a.m. announced time. Florida Department of Transportation crews began directing traffic not towards the old D.H. “Banty” Saunders Drawbridge — often just called “North Bridge” — which cars have passed over since 1963, but to the new fixed-span bridge, which, at 85 feet, is the tallest on the Treasure Coast.
The new North Bridge will bear the name E.C. Summerlin Family Bridge, after early St. Lucie County settler E.C. Summerlin and his descendants, who made a ceremonial trip across the bridge the day before its official opening.
The former drawbridge has been closed permanently to traffic and will be demolished as part of the final phase of work. Construction on the new bridge continues through late 2027, even as cars cross over the Indian River Lagoon on it.
The project is expected to carry a final price tag of $111.5 million.
The new structure allows cars traveling on U.S. Highway 1 to turn directly onto the bridge, passing over the Florida East Coast Railway tracks, Old Dixie Highway and the Intracoastal Waterway, eliminating bridge openings for marine traffic and reducing delays for motorists.
Motorists traveling along U.S. 1 can still access Old Dixie Highway via Juanita Avenue, and additional access improvements include connections via Sunny Lane.
While the bridge is opening to vehicle traffic on May 15, the eastbound and westbound S.R. A1A bicycle lanes and the shared-use path along S.R. A1A on the north side of the bridge will remain closed as construction continues.
Pedestrians will be detoured to the sidewalk on the south side of the bridge. The observation deck at the west end of the new bridge also will remain closed.
Breaking news reporter Laurie K. Blandford contributed to this report.
Wicker Perlis is TCPalm’s Watchdog Reporter for St. Lucie County. You can reach him at Wicker.Perlis@TCPalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Open! New Florida bridge officially replaces old drawbridge
Reporting by Wicker Perlis, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
