The nearly 100-year-old truss bridge that carries US 17 over the St. Marys River connecting Georgia and Florida is most commonly known for its vibrant blue paint. However, this through-truss bridge is also a swing bridge with a unique twist.
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| The St. Marys River Bridge. (Joe Babyak - August 2011) |
The swing portion of the bridge - a standard design for many low-level bridges of the time - allows passing boats to continue their journey on the St. Marys River unobstructed. However, unlike most swing bridges - opening the bridge is done manually and not electronically.
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| From the Georgia Side - the St Marys River Bridge on the left and a railroad bridge on the right. (Adam Prince - August 2011) |
The opening of the central span typically takes six to eight workers. They manually turn a 15-foot-long turnkey. Turning the span to allow vessels through can take up to 30 minutes. The Florida Department of Transportation operates the bridge - and shuts down the bridge twice yearly to perform maintenance. (The shutdown typically occurs during daylight hours over a three-to-four-day period.)
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| A closer look at the St. Marys River Bridge that carries US 17 between Georgia and Florida. (Adam Prince - August 2011) |
It is uncommon for the bridge to open for taller vessels. Communication and coordination with the Florida DOT must occur beforehand.
The entire crossing, including the Warren Truss swing span and accompanying pony truss approaches, was shut down for one year in 2013 for a $3.5 million rehabilitation project. It currently averages 8,600 vehicle crossings per day.
All photos taken by post author unless otherwise noted.
Links:
- US 17 St. Marys River Bridge ---HistoricBridges.org
How To Get There:
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