Acosta Bridge
Acosta Bridge | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 30°19′17″N 81°39′50″W / 30.32139°N 81.66389°W |
Carries | 6 lanes of SR 13 2 monorail tracks 2 sidewalks |
Crosses | St. Johns River |
Locale | Jacksonville, Florida |
Official name | St. Elmo W. Acosta Bridge |
Maintained by | Florida Department of Transportation |
ID number | 720570 southbound 720571 northbound |
Characteristics | |
Design | Continuous prestressed concrete segmental box girder bridge |
Total length | 1,645 feet (501 m)[1] |
Width | 151.3 feet (46.1 m)[1] |
Longest span | 630 feet (190 m) |
Clearance below | 81 feet (25 m)[1] |
History | |
Construction start | 1990[1] |
Opened | August 1994[1] |
Location | |
St. Johns River Bridge | |
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Coordinates | 30°19′17″N 81°39′50″W / 30.3214°N 81.6639°W |
Carries | 3 lanes of SR 13 |
Crosses | St. Johns River |
Locale | Jacksonville, Florida |
Official name | St. Elmo W. Acosta Bridge |
Other name(s) | The Yellow Monster |
Maintained by | Florida Department of Transportation |
Characteristics | |
Design | Steel vertical-lift bridge |
Total length | 1,645 feet (501 m) |
Width | 75 feet (23 m) |
History | |
Opened | 1921 |
Closed | 1991 |
Location | |
The St. Elmo W. Acosta Bridge spans the
Prior to its replacement in 1991, the bridge, originally called St. Johns River Bridge, opened in 1921 and carried three lanes (center one
The Acosta Bridge was also notable due to its blue neon lights that illuminated the bridge at night. In February 2015 the Jacksonville Transportation Authority announced that the neon lights would "be off indefinitely with no return date on the books" citing a lack of funding for repairs.[2] However, in 2019 the JTA began a $2.6 million project to replace the inoperable neon lights with LED lights. Installation is expected to be completed by summer 2020 and unlike the neon lights, the new LEDs will be able to display any color, not just blue.
North (downtown) approach
The original north approach was a T-shaped viaduct, with the bridge ending at Riverside Avenue (
When the bridge was rebuilt, the intersection was rebuilt as a semi-directional T interchange. Direct high-speed connections were provided between the bridge and both directions on Riverside Avenue, as well as a direct ramp from the bridge to the intersection of Broad Street and Bay Street (Riverside Avenue splits into a one-way pair of Broad Street and Jefferson Street north of the bridge).
South approach
The bridge originally emptied out on Miami Road (now Prudential Drive) just west of San Marco Boulevard, with a continuation, at least southbound, to San Marco Boulevard. SR 13 went south on San Marco Boulevard, and was later changed to go east on Miami Road.
Around 1958, a system of
When the bridge was rebuilt, the south approach was kept almost identical. The only real difference was a new northbound onramp from Museum Circle, one block north of Mary Street. The popular Diamond Head Lobster House was in its path and had to be demolished.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e Acosta Bridge at Structurae
- ^ "Neon blue lights out on Acosta Bridge". www.firstcoastnews.com. Archived from the original on 23 February 2015. Retrieved 22 May 2022.
- ^ Littlepage, Ron (20 January 2013). "After 3 failures, will Jacksonville spurn more restaurant deals?". Florida Times-Union. Archived from the original on 21 January 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2013.