Update: Old Roosevelt Bridge Change of Schedule Now Permanent, Okeechobee Waterway Statute Mile 7.4
Our thanks to Bill King for this update on the now permanent conditions at the old and new Roosevelt bridges. The Old Roosevelt bridge, its opening schedule always dependent on the adjacent RR bridge openings, is apparently now on the Federal Holiday schedule, see our Bridge Directory listing below. Also see Not Restricted. Don’t get confused, just be patient!
Nov 22, 2020: FDOT has made “permanent” the restricted opening schedule for the “old” Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart, FL, as follows: will open to vessel traffic as needed daily on the hour and half-hour only except at 0800. The bridge may open, if requested, at 0730 but not again until 0815. Openings will not occur when the FEC railroad trestle is in the down / closed position.
FDOT has made “permanent” the restricted opening schedule for the “old” Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart, FL, as follows: revised restrictions:
Weekdays – from 0700 – 1800 hours: opens on hour and half-hour, except no opening at 0800; opens at 0815 instead
Weekends / holidays – from 0800 – 1800 – opens on hour, 20-minutes after and 20-minutes before
Nights – 1800-0700 (0800 weekends) – on request
Bill King
July 5, 2020: The Bridge Tender at the bascule bridge across the St. Lucie in Stuart, FL, today reported that openings no longer are “on request.” Instead, the Old Roosevelt Bridge will adhere to a strict schedule, opening only on the hour and half-hour. This change probably is tied to the decision to close the “new” high rise bridge that carried southbound traffic across the St. Lucie. It was found to have structural damage. Southbound traffic now shares the adjacent twin bridge that had been for traffic northbound. Heavy trucks now are prohibited from the high-rise and must cross the river on the old Roosevelt Bridge.
Bill King
Click Here To Open A Chart View Window, Zoomed To the Location of Old Roosevelt Bridge
Comments from Cruisers (1)
I find these restrictions to mariners by the Old Roosevelt Bridge to be absurd. They should open on demand, because the new bridge parallels the old bridge and is available EVERY minute 24 hrs a day. How many of these restricted openings are going to be eliminated by the FEC closures happening during a scheduled opening.