This cantankerous aging railway bridge in the heart of downtown Jacksonville requires constant upkeep and has plagued boaters with its numerous maintenance lockdowns and its closed vertical clearance of 5ft (!!) severely restricting river activities on the popular St. Johns. Our thanks to Jeff Wingfield for this notice.

FLORIDA – ST JOHNS RIVER – FEC RAILROAD BRIDGE: Temporary Deviation UPDATED
The Coast Guard has issued a temporary deviation from the operating schedule that governs the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railroad Bridge across the St. Johns River, mile 24.9, at Jacksonville, FL. The deviation is necessary to accommodate maintenance and repairs on the bridge. This deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation with partial openings at pre-determined times during the maintenance period. This deviation is effective from 7:00 p.m. on February 16, 2019 to 6:30 p.m. on February 27, 2019. This temporary deviation allows the bridge to remain closed to navigation from 7:00 a.m. on February 16, 2018 through 5:59 p.m. on February 27, 2019. The bridge will be allowed to remain in the closed to navigation position with partial openings from 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. on February 23, 2019; from 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m. on February 24, 2019; from 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. on February 25, 2019; from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m. on February 26, 2019; from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. on February 27, 2019. During these designated time periods, the bridge will provide a partial opening with a vertical clearance of 75 feet at mean high water at the center of the channel. Work will be ongoing for 24 hours a day during this period with a barge and crane in the channel. Mariner are advised to proceed with caution. Ref: LNM 06-19 UPDATED Chart: 11491

And this further clarification from frequent contributor Perry McDonald:

Please note that the bridge will be CLOSED to navigation for maintenance from February 16 through February 22.

The bridge will provide partial openings with a vertical clearance of 75 feet at mean high water at the center of the channel beginning on Saturday, February 23 through Wednesday, February 27, or until maintenance is complete.

Work will be ongoing for 24 hours a day during this period with a barge and crane in the channel. Mariners are advised to proceed with caution. Please note the following schedule and plan accordingly:

Saturday, Feb. 16 through Friday, Feb. 22 – CLOSED
Saturday, Feb. 23 – Brief Opening 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Sunday, Feb. 24 – Brief Opening 8:45 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
Monday, Feb. 25 – Brief Opening 9:45 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 26 – Brief Opening 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m., and 4:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m.
Wednesday, Feb. 27 – Brief Opening 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, Feb. 28 – OPEN and returning to normal operating schedule.

Click Here To View the Eastern Florida Cruisers’ Net Bridge Directory Listing For FEC RR Bridge

Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of FEC RR Bridge