Francis P. Whitehair Bridge | |
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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]
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]