Thomas B. Manual/Florida Turnpike Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 14.5 southwest of unlighted daybeacon #46
27 07.058 North/080 16.491 West
Fixed
55 feet

St. Lucie Lock – located at Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 15, hard by unlighted daybeacon #50 (eastern side of lock)
27 06.722 North/080 17.089 West
VHF Hailing Channel 13
Usually operates on demand unless other vessels are locking through, but during times of especially low water in Lake Okeechobee, locking hours may be limited. Check the “Okeechobee” page here on the Cruisers’ Net for further information about any restrictions.
6/23/2015 See /?p=149051 for restrictions.

Lock Operator: St Lucie Lock & Dam 772-287-2665 or 863-662-9148

SSR 76A Bridge—crosses Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 16, some 1.9 nautical miles southwest of St. Lucie Lock’s western entrance
27 05.279 North/080 18.117 West
Fixed
56 feet

Indiantown/Highway 710 Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 28, some .4 nautical miles west of charted “Micro-Tower” on Waterway’s southern banks
27 00.734 North/080 27.294 West
Fixed
55 feet

Indiantown Railway Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 28, .4 nautical miles west of charted “Micro-Tower” on Waterway’s southern banks
27 00.708 North/080 27.357 West
Swing bridge
7 feet closed vertical clearance
Restricted opening
Usually open 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., unless a train is due—sometimes long waits when a train is scheduled but these are rare—often closed during the evening and nighttime hours

Port Mayaca Railway Lift Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 38, near the tiny (charted) village of Port Mayaca
26 59.242 North/080 36.256 West
Lift bridge
7 feet closed vertical clearance, 49 feet of vertical clearance when fully open
VHF Hailing Channel 9
Usually open unless a train is due (flashing green light means it’s OK to proceed; flashing red light warns of an imminent closing)

Port Mayaca/Highway 98 Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 39, a short distance east of the Port Mayaca Lock
26 59.117 North/080 37.022 West
Fixed
55 feet

Port Mayaca Lock – located at Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 39, immediately east of the Waterway’s entrance into Lake Okeechobee
26 59.070 North/080 37.211 West
VHF Hailing Channel 13
Usually operates on demand unless other vessels are locking through

Lock Operator: Port Mayaca Lock & Dam 561-924-2858 or 863-662-9424

Torry Island Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway’s Rim Route at Statute Mile 61, hard by Torry Island
26 42.327 North/080 42.767 West
Swing bridge
11 feet closed vertical clearance
Restricted opening
VHF Hailing Channel 9
Opens on demand 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday; closed during the nighttime hours—be warned that it is hand operated and opening can take 15 minutes

Julian Keen Jr Lock, formerly Moore Haven Lock – located at Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 78, hard by the Moore Haven waterfront
26 50.367 North/081 05.230 West
VHF Hailing Channel 13
Usually operates on demand unless other vessels are locking through

Lock Operator: Julian Keen, Jr. Lock & Dam 863-946-0414 or 863-662-9533

Moore Haven Railway Bridge—crosses Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 78, south of the Moore Haven lock
26 50.102 North/081 05.308 West
Swing bridge
5 feet closed vertical clearance
Usually open, but should you find it closed, be warned that it is hand operated and opening can be a slow process—be sure to use the easterly pass through

Moore Haven/Highway 27 Bridge—crosses Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 78, south of the Moore Haven lock
26 49.988 North/081 05.318 West
Fixed
55 feet of vertical clearance

Ortona Lock – located at Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 94, just east of unlighted daybeacon #1 and flashing daybeacon #2
26 47.353 North/081 18.280 West
VHF Hailing Channel 13
Usually operates on demand unless other vessels are locking through

Lock Operator: Ortona Lock & Dam 863-675-0616 or 863- 662-9846

La Belle/Highway 29 Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 103, in the heart of La Belle
26 46.152 North/081 26.245 West
Bascule
28 feet closed vertical clearance
Restricted opening
VHF Hailing Channel 9
Opens on demand except that from 7:00 am to 9:00 am, and from 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm, weekdays (except Federal holidays), the bridge does not open at all

Fort Denaud/SSR 78AW Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statue Mile 108. at the charted position of Denaud
26 44.678 North/081 30.626 West
Swing bridge
9 feet closed vertical clearance
Restricted opening
VHF Hailing Channel 9
Opens on demand except 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.; during these late-night and early-morning hours, opens only with three hours’ notice—passing craft are directed by a sign to one of the bridge’s pass throughs or another, depending on their direction; westbound vessels should take the northern leg while eastbound boats are directed to the southern pass through

Alva/Broadway Bridge—crosses Okeechobee Waterway at Statue Mile 116, at the charted position of Alva
26 42.809 North/081 36.599 West
Bascule
23 feet closed vertical clearance
Restricted opening
VHF Hailing Channel 9
Opens on demand except 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.; during these late-night and early-morning hours, opens only with three hours’ notice..

Franklin Lock – located at Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 121, west of unlighted daybeacon #2 (western side of lock)
26 43.301 North/081 41.626 West
VHF Hailing Channel 13
Usually operates on demand unless other vessels are locking through, but during times of especially low water in Lake Okeechobee, locking hours may be limited. 

Lock Operator:  WP Franklin Lock & Dam 239-694-5451 or 863-662-9908

Fort Myers Shores/Highway 31 Bridges—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway at Statute Mile 126, west of unlighted daybeacon #6
26 42.974 North/081 45.639 West
Bascule
27 feet closed vertical clearance
Restricted opening
VHF Hailing Channel 9
Open on demand except from 10:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m.; during these late-night and early-morning hours, open only with three hours’ notice

Interstate 75 Twin Bridges—cross the Okeechobee Waterway and Caloosahatchee River at Statute Mile 129, west of unlighted daybeacon #15
26 41.844 North/081 47.959 West
Fixed
55 feet

Comments from fellow cruisers concerning this bridge:

When traveling east bound last April, the clearance on these bridges was shown to be 53 feet. This October, the clearance was 52 feet. With a 52 foot mast, this causes me concern, especially traveling all the way up to the bridge and not be able to procede or having to wait ofr low tide. Isn’t the rated 55 feet at mean high tide? Did I just get there at unusual high tides?
David S. Power

Ft Myers, Caloosahatchee River, closure for bridge work
Date Reported: Oct 01, 2014
OWW Mile: 129.0
Reported by: Ted Stehle

The de Moya Group, Inc. has advised the Coast Guard that they will be setting the new bridge girders across the Caloosahatchee River.
During main girder installation the waterway will need to be closed to navigation for the protection of the workers as well as the vessel operators passing under this location.
The tentative schedule for waterway closures are:
Saturday, November 21, 2014
Wednesday December 3, 2014
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Wednesday, December 24, 2014
Saturday, January 10, 2015

The exact dates and times will be published in future Notice to Mariners, due to possible weather delays.
Source: CG 7th District NTM

SCL Railway Bridge—crosses the Okeechobee Waterway and Caloosahatchee River at Statute Mile 130, west of unlighted daybeacon #18
26 41.702 North/081 48.900 West
Lift bridge
with overhang—5 feet closed vertical clearance—55 feet when fully open—usually open unless a train is due