Passenger Trains > f.e.c./brightline drawbridge q's

where are the current drawbridges on the f.e.c./brightline route?

approx. how often do they open and for how long?  

do some particular drawbridges open/close more than others?

do these drawbridges open/close very often between the hours of 2200-0500?

thanks for any info.............

66

The St Lucie River bridge openings at Stuart are controlled by a schedule. It limits the down process to 30 minutes (IIRC) out of each clock hour.

I had the surprise this week of seeing train 206 waiting on one BrightLine and the bridge. It blocked three crossings in Stuart.

Bridge went down, SB BLF crossed, NB 206 crossed. Bridge went up, came down a few minutes later for NB BLF

Posted from Android

does the stuart bridge open for 30 minutes 24/7 or are there less openings in the late night early am hrs?

66

goneon66 Wrote:
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> does the stuart bridge open for 30 minutes 24/7 or
> are there less openings in the late night early am
> hrs?
>
> 66
I believe the schedule applies 6 am to 7 pm. It has resulted in much less bridge down time.

When pushed, the railroad can make good choices.

Posted from Android

thanks for the stuart bridge info. 

are there also current drawbridges at jupiter and ft. lauderdale?

if so, do you know if they also limit the down time to 30 minutes per hour?

66

 

There are movable bridges at Jupiter on the Loxahatchee River, and at Fort Lauderdale on the New River.

Compared to Stuart, the Lox bridge is less busy. I am not aware there are limits at that site.

New River is very busy. Lots of up and down. I don't know what protocols govern that bridge, but the Marine Industries Assoc has an agreement there, I believe.

Posted from Android

thanks for this info.

much appreciated.............

66

For those unfamiliar, this is the Stuart bridge in question.

---

wow, i didn't realize how "low profile" the stuart bridge was.  thanks for that image.

i can see why the pleasure boaters wanted the bridge open more often...........

66

At high tide, I doubt you could get a canoe through there without ducking. 



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 04/22/24 16:45 by march_hare.

march_hare Wrote:
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> At high tide, I doubt you could be a canoe through
> there without ducking. 

The current bridge has 6'6" clearance. The new double track bridge that is planned and is undergoing design review will have 17'9" clearance. Once that is in service, the current bridge and trestle will be demolished.

Jishnu Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> The current bridge has 6'6" clearance. The new
> double track bridge that is planned and is
> undergoing design review will have 17'9"
> clearance. Once that is in service, the current
> bridge and trestle will be demolished.

Thanks for that info. 

How is the design process going? Has it had any public input / review?

Sounds like the grade of the approach is what the FEC freight trains can handle if the current bridge is going to be demolished.

Jishnu Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
>
> The current bridge has 6'6" clearance. The new
> double track bridge that is planned and is
> undergoing design review will have 17'9"
> clearance. Once that is in service, the current
> bridge and trestle will be demolished.

will this new bridge be "movable" or will the 17'9" clearance accommodate all boats that would pass under this bridge?

66

goneon66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> will this new bridge be "movable" or will the
> 17'9" clearance accommodate all boats that would
> pass under this bridge?

I am sure that Jishnu will have a better answer, but it has to be movable because the highway bridge has a clearance of around fifty feet. 

However the proposed clearance should handle the majority of boats.

The channel is pretty shallow. I wonder if someone has unspoken plans to dredge the channel.

that sure will be an impressive bridge to see being constructed.

i know if i had a "boston whaler" whaler i used on the st. lucie river, i would be very pleased..........

66

goneon66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jishnu Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > The current bridge has 6'6" clearance. The new
> > double track bridge that is planned and is
> > undergoing design review will have 17'9"
> > clearance. Once that is in service, the current
> > bridge and trestle will be demolished.
>
> will this new bridge be "movable" or will the
> 17'9" clearance accommodate all boats that would
> pass under this bridge?
>
> 66

It will be movable.

ts1457 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jishnu Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > The current bridge has 6'6" clearance. The new
> > double track bridge that is planned and is
> > undergoing design review will have 17'9"
> > clearance. Once that is in service, the current
> > bridge and trestle will be demolished.
>
> Thanks for that info. 
>
> How is the design process going? Has it had any
> public input / review?
>
> Sounds like the grade of the approach is what the
> FEC freight trains can handle if the current
> bridge is going to be demolished.

The publicly available information appears in the following Trains Magazine article:

https://www.trains.com/trn/news-reviews/news-wire/design-work-under-way-on-new-stuart-bridge-for-brightline-fec/

There appears to be some interest expressed by boaters for a higher fixed structure. But I think that is unlikely since such a structure has to have something like 50' clearance to meet current rules. 50' is a lot higher than 17.75'.

For the various options considered for the bridge across New River at Fort Lauderdale that is one of the options on the table, but in that case the lower level movable structure will be retained for freight trains.

thanks for all of this info jishnu.

i find all of this movable bridge info very interesting, especially from a disptacher's perspective.

it will be interesting to see how often this new bridge will be raised.............

66

goneon66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> thanks for all of this info jishnu.
>
> i find all of this movable bridge info very
> interesting, especially from a disptacher's
> perspective.
>
> it will be interesting to see how often this new
> bridge will be raised.............
>
> 66

Well, if 80% of the traffic will be able to pass without raising the bridge as opposed to 20% or so, it will certainly require much less opening than now for sure.

goneon66 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Jishnu Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> >
> > The current bridge has 6'6" clearance. The new
> > double track bridge that is planned and is
> > undergoing design review will have 17'9"
> > clearance. Once that is in service, the current
> > bridge and trestle will be demolished.
>
> will this new bridge be "movable" or will the
> 17'9" clearance accommodate all boats that would
> pass under this bridge?
>
> 66

Many ocean capable sail boats have masts taller than 20 feet.