Intracoastal Waterway Fixed Bridge Height Variations
Wally Moran, experienced Waterway cruiser and founder of Sail to the Sun Rally, posted these comments on Seven Seas Cruising Association Facebook page and we welcome your comments and perspectives on the issue of bridge heights. Be sure to access SSECN’s Bridge Directory from the right-hand menu under each state, eg. /category/bridges-va-to-nc-line/
During the Sail to the Sun ICW Rally this fall, and from comments online, it’s apparent that there are issues with both bridge heights and the marking of same on the ICW. It seems to me that the USCG needs to address this issue. Speaking from experience with my rally group, and from comments here, there was considerable concern about the potential for damage on tall masted boats from bridges that aren’t actually 65 feet – the ICW supposed minimum.
Any thoughts on how this can be dealt with? At a minimum, I think that bridge heights need to be confirmed, and marker boards properly calibrated by the authorities. In the meantime, perhaps what we need to do as a community is to set up a resource for bridge heights on the ICW.
Wally Moran
Comments from Cruisers (2)
In Florida, bridges are maintained by Florida Dept of Transportation in coordination with the USCG.
Wally is a friend of mine and this discussion has also been going on in his facebook group so for the benefit of others, I’ll note a few things that may be affecting “bridge height” from this discussion:
1. Apparently at least some areas in FL have revised the markings on their boards due to liability concerns from the high steel on the bridges to the hanging down light at the center of the span which may be a foot or two lower even though easily bypassed.
2. Bridge height on the ICW is measured from average high water. Tidal areas can easily provide less or more air draft than “average”… especially during full moons, spring tides etc.
3. Both Tidal and non-tidal areas can be affected by wind driven water and/or high water due to storms. I quick look at fixed pilings/docks, waterway markers etc. can provide a good guess about high water conditions… as can a quick call to your local towboat or seatow operator.
4. Comments have also been made that other variations in height may be due to settling foundations, subsidence due to depletion of the water table and “global warming”. To the extent any of these are true in a given area…they should be reflected on bridge tide boards as less than 65′ without any need to intervene by humans.
In my own experience the failure to erect and/or maintain bridge boards is a real problem…especially when your boat is already pushing the limits and you don’t know the state of the water height.
Wally does this trip a couple of times a year…and his observations over time are worth listening to. Does anyone know WHO is responsible for the tide boards on ICW bridges and WHO we can write or call when we see a problem?