The New Fixed Span Bridge Is Now Open!

As of yesterday, the new fixed span bridge over the Indian River at the Max Brewer Causeway is now open to public traffic.

The new fixed span bridge span that replaces the old troublesome SR 406 swing span bridge, also known as the A. Max Brewer Bridge, has been under construction since May of 2009.

According to inspectors, the old swing span bridge was considered one of the most unsafe bridges in the state of Florida.

The FDOT project that included the construction of a 300 foot long fishing pier on the west bank under the North side of the bridge is apparently right on schedule.

Lane Closure Schedule For January 30, 2011 to February 5, 2011:

1/31/2011
On Monday traffic will be diverted to the new fixed span bridge and the old swing span bridge will be officially be placed out of service.

Various construction activities will continue to occur that may cause stoppages or intermittent lane closures.

02/05/11
On Saturday, the A. Max Brewer Bridge will be closed to motorist traffic from 9am-11am.

The old bridge was the main conduit for visitors to the Canaveral National Seashore, Playalinda Beach, the Kennedy Space Center, and the Black Point Wildlife Drive in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge.

Hopefully when the demolition of the old swing span bridge is complete, there will be enough left of the span for shrimpers and fishermen to use as casting and shrimping platforms.

Cast netting and the use of generators for shrimping is prohibited on the new fishing pier.

It would be nice if the FDOT would leave portions of the old bridge intact for this purpose, like they did when they constructed the St. Petersburg's Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

We shall see.