Okeechobee Waterway

(a) Exempt vessels. This term means public vessels of the United States, tugs with tows, and vessels in a situation where a delay would endanger life or property.

(b) Evans Crary (SR A1A) bridge, mile 3.4 at Stuart. The draw shall open on signal; except that from December 1 through May 1, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the draw need open only on the hour and half-hour. On Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays, December 1 through May 1, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., the draw need open only on the hour, 20 minutes after the hour, and 40 minutes after the hour. Exempt vessels shall be passed at any time.

(c) Florida East Coast Railroad bridge, mile 7.4 at Stuart. The draw shall operate as follows:
(1) The bridge is not constantly tended.

(2) The draw is normally in the fully open position, displaying flashing green lights to indicate that vessels may pass.

(3) When a train approaches the bridge, the navigation lights go to flashing red and a horn sounds four blasts, pauses, and then repeats four blasts. After an eight minute delay, the draw lowers and locks, providing the scanning equipment reveals nothing under the draw. The draw remains down for a period of eight minutes or while the approach track circuit is occupied.

(4) After the train has cleared, the draw opens and the lights return to flashing green.
(d) Roosevelt (US1) bridge, mile 7.4 at Stuart. The draw shall open on signal; except Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. the draw need open only on the hour and half hour. However, the draw need not open between 7:30 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. except at 8:15 a.m. and 4:45 p.m. On Saturdays, Sundays, and Federal holidays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. the draw need open only on the hour, 20 minutes after the hour, and 40 minutes after the hour. When the adjacent railway bridge is in the closed position at the time of a scheduled opening the draw need not open, but it must then open immediately upon opening of the railroad bridge to pass all accumulated vessels. Exempt vessels shall be passed at any time.

(e) Seaboard System Railroad bridge, mile 28.2 at Indiantown. The draw shall open on signal; except that, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the draw shall open on signal if at least three hours notice is given.

(f) Florida East Coast Railroad bridge, mile 38.0, at Port Mayaca.
(1) The bridge is not constantly tended.

(2) The draw is normally in the fully open position displaying flashing green lights to indicate that vessels may pass.

(3) When a train approaches the bridge it will stop and a crewmember will observe the waterway for approaching vessels, which will be allowed to pass. Upon manual signal, the bridge lights will go to flashing red, and the horn will sound four blasts, pause, then repeat four blasts, then the draw will lower and lock, providing scanning equipment reveals nothing under the span.

(4) After the train has cleared, the draw will open, and the lights will return to flashing green.
(g) Belle Glade Dike (SR 71) bridge, mile 60.7 between Torry Island and Lake Shore. The draw shall open on signal from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday. At all other times, the draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels.

(h) Seaboard System Railroad bridge, mile 78.3 at Moore Haven. The draw shall open on signal; except that, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the draw need not be opened for the passage of vessels.

(i) Highway bridges at Moore Haven (mile 78.4); La Belle (mile 103.0); Denaud (mile 108.2); Alva (mile 116.0); and Olga (mile 126.3). The draws shall open on signal; except that, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. the draws shall open on signal if at least three hours notice is given.

(j) Sanibel Causeway bridge, mile 151 at Punta Rassa. The draw shall open on signal; except that from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Federal holidays, the draw need open only on the hour and half hour. On Saturday, Sunday, and Federal holidays the draw shall open on signal, except that from 7 a.m. until 6 p.m., the draw need only open on the hour, quarter hour, half hour and three-quarter hour. From 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. daily, the draw shall open on signal if at least five minutes advance notice is given to the bridge tender.

Back to Bridge Regulations Index