Caloosahatchee Bridges, Okeechobee Waterway, Fort Myers, FL
There are five fixed bridges with 55ft vertical clearances between Lake Okeechobee and the western end of the Okeechobee Waterway, beginning with the I-75 twin bridges and ending with the Mid Point Memorial Bridge at Mile 138 and Cape Coral Bridge at Mile 142. Three of these bridges are in Fort Myers and are listed in the SSECN Bridge Directory. If you have experience with these bridges and have suggestions for Skipper Jolett, let us hear from you.
I have not been to Ft Myers Beach with my boat , yet. I am going in a few days. My mast is 54 ft above the water. I was investigating the height of the bridges over the Caloosahatchee River for a trip to Fort Myers which is stated at 55 ft above MHW. So, what is the height of the tide at MHL? After quite a lot of digging I found that the Mid Point Bridge on the Caloosahatchee was built to a height of 55 ft above MHL which was specified to be a tide of +.87 ft. This figure was arrived at by local observations of the tide for over 18 years. I have lived in SWF for about 12 years and a tide of + 1 ft is common. So, don’t assume that the bridge clearances correspond to any tide you might see on any day. After I go to Ft Myers Beach this weekend I will report my observations. Lastly, bridges are built by local governments and one can not assume they are are built by the same standards.
Barry Jolett
Click Here To View the Okeechobee Waterway Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For I-75 Bridges
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of I-75 Bridges
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Edison Twin Bridges
Click Here To View the Okeechobee Waterway Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For Hwy 41 Bridge
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Hwy 41 Bridge
Comments from Cruisers (2)
Did you make the trip? Do you have any information about the clearance for the I-75 and Edison Twin bridges? Our mast is only 52f but last year in August we barley made it underneath these bridges at high tide. The “clearance boards” did read only 53f…(Officially some bridges have a clearance of 54.8f, not 55f – see http://www.city-data.com/bridges/bridges-Fort-Myers-Florida.html)
Now we have to go back, but we are gained a few inches by unloading the boat and the water level is higher than last August….Of course we’ll go a low tide but I’m still concerned…
Capn what was your experience attempting to cross under the bridges from sanibel causeway to fort myers city. Thanks in advance