Matanzas Pass Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Matanzas Pass Bridge (also locally known as the Sky Bridge, or the Fort Myers Beach Bridge) is a bridge located in Fort Myers Beach, Florida
. It carries State Road 865 (San Carlos Boulevard) between the Florida mainland (via San Carlos Island) and Estero Island, which is a major tourist destination. The bridge is one of the island's two connections to the mainland. The other is the Bonita Beach Causeway
on the south end of the island.
The current Matanzas Pass Bridge opened in 1980, and is 65 feet (19.8 m) tall, making it the second-tallest bridge in Lee County
. The tallest bridge in the county is the first bridge of the Sanibel Causeway
, which is 70 feet (21.3 m) tall. The bridge was built this tall to accommodate the area's large shrimping vessels. The current bridge has two traffic lanes, one for northbound traffic and one for southbound traffic. There is also a pedestrian lane, which is separated from the rest of the bridge by a concrete barrier. The bridge's current blue color was added in 2011, making it resemble the Jewfish Creek Bridge
in Key Largo
.
The current bridge was built to replace a small swing bridge that was installed in 1927. The original Matanzas Pass Bridge was brought in from a location on the east coast of Florida, which was necessary because the island's original toll bridge, which was built in 1921 and ran from the northern tip of the island near Bowditch Point to Bunche Beach on the mainland, was destroyed by a hurricane in 1926. (The route leading up to this bridge on the mainland still exists today, and is known as John Morris Road.)
The original Matanzas Pass Bridge's swing span had to be opened manually by the bridge tender up until 1950, when an electric motor was installed to open the span, since the span needed to be opened frequently for vessels in the area's large shrimping industry. Even with the motor, the bridge was becoming old and unreliable, and island residents feared that the bridge would fail and strand them in the event of a hurricane evacuation. This was the justification for the Bonita Beach Causeway
(built in 1964), and later, the current bridge (in 1980).
Fort Myers Beach, Florida
Fort Myers Beach is a town located on Estero Island in Lee County, Florida, United States. The population was 6,561 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Cape Coral–Fort Myers Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:...
. It carries State Road 865 (San Carlos Boulevard) between the Florida mainland (via San Carlos Island) and Estero Island, which is a major tourist destination. The bridge is one of the island's two connections to the mainland. The other is the Bonita Beach Causeway
Bonita Beach Causeway
The Bonita Beach Causeway is a series of four low-level bridges located in Southwest Florida connecting Bonita Springs with Fort Myers Beach. It carries Estero Boulevard and is four miles long from end to end. The Bonita Beach Causeway traverses three natural barrier islands bordered by the Gulf...
on the south end of the island.
The current Matanzas Pass Bridge opened in 1980, and is 65 feet (19.8 m) tall, making it the second-tallest bridge in Lee County
Lee County, Florida
Lee County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. Located in southwest Florida, the principal cities in the county are Fort Myers and Cape Coral...
. The tallest bridge in the county is the first bridge of the Sanibel Causeway
Sanibel Causeway
The Sanibel Causeway is a causeway in Southwest Florida that spans the San Carlos Bay, connecting Sanibel Island with the Florida mainland in South Fort Myers. The causeway consists of three separate two-lane bridge spans, and two man-made causeway islands, which are located between each of the...
, which is 70 feet (21.3 m) tall. The bridge was built this tall to accommodate the area's large shrimping vessels. The current bridge has two traffic lanes, one for northbound traffic and one for southbound traffic. There is also a pedestrian lane, which is separated from the rest of the bridge by a concrete barrier. The bridge's current blue color was added in 2011, making it resemble the Jewfish Creek Bridge
Jewfish Creek Bridge
The Jewfish Creek Bridge is a bridge in the Florida Keys. Spanning both Jewfish Creek and Lake Surprise, it carries the Overseas Highway between the Florida Keys and the Florida mainland....
in Key Largo
Key Largo, Florida
Key Largo is a census-designated place in Monroe County, Florida, United States, located on the island of Key Largo in the upper Florida Keys. The population was 11,886 at the 2000 census. The name comes from the Spanish Cayo Largo, or "long key"...
.
The current bridge was built to replace a small swing bridge that was installed in 1927. The original Matanzas Pass Bridge was brought in from a location on the east coast of Florida, which was necessary because the island's original toll bridge, which was built in 1921 and ran from the northern tip of the island near Bowditch Point to Bunche Beach on the mainland, was destroyed by a hurricane in 1926. (The route leading up to this bridge on the mainland still exists today, and is known as John Morris Road.)
The original Matanzas Pass Bridge's swing span had to be opened manually by the bridge tender up until 1950, when an electric motor was installed to open the span, since the span needed to be opened frequently for vessels in the area's large shrimping industry. Even with the motor, the bridge was becoming old and unreliable, and island residents feared that the bridge would fail and strand them in the event of a hurricane evacuation. This was the justification for the Bonita Beach Causeway
Bonita Beach Causeway
The Bonita Beach Causeway is a series of four low-level bridges located in Southwest Florida connecting Bonita Springs with Fort Myers Beach. It carries Estero Boulevard and is four miles long from end to end. The Bonita Beach Causeway traverses three natural barrier islands bordered by the Gulf...
(built in 1964), and later, the current bridge (in 1980).