Mathews Bridge | |
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| Coordinates | 30°19′37″N81°37′05″W / 30.327°N 81.618°W /30.327; -81.618 |
| Carries |   US 90 Alt.(four general purpose lanes) |
| Crosses | St. Johns River |
| Locale | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Official name | John E. Mathews Bridge |
| Maintained by | Florida Department of Transportation |
| ID number | 720076 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Steelcantilever bridge |
| Total length | 2,248.2 metres (7,376 ft) |
| Width | 17.7 metres (58 ft) |
| Longest span | 246.9 metres (810 ft) |
| Clearance above | 6.80 metres (22.3 ft) |
| Clearance below | 46.3 metres (152 ft) |
| History | |
| Opened | April 15, 1953; 72 years ago (April 15, 1953) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 13,700 (2019) |
| Location | |
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TheMathews Bridge is acantilever bridge inJacksonville,Florida, which spans theSt. Johns River. Constructed in 1953, the bridge brings traffic along theArlington Expressway between downtown Jacksonville and theArlington neighborhood. It was named afterJohn E. Mathews, a Florida state legislator and Chief Justice of the 1955Florida Supreme Court who helped gather funding for the bridge's construction.[1] Originally silver in color, the bridge was painted garnet in 1984 in celebration of Jacksonville's short-livedUnited States Football League franchise, theJacksonville Bulls.
Discussion on building a bridge to Arlington and the beaches began in the early 20th century when cars became more popular. In 1938 Duval County Commission discontinued ferry service to help encourage support for a new bridge. At this time, only theAcosta Bridge andMain Street Bridge crossed the St. Johns River for vehicle use. Another reason for a new bridge was congestion on the two bridges. John E. Mathews, a state legislator and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, helped secure funding for a new bridge. The cost of constructing a bridge was $11 million to be backed by bonds and toll revenues. Tolls remained for the Mathews Bridge until 1989. The John E. Mathews Bridge opened on April 15, 1953.[2][3]
The bridge had a notoriously problematic grating in the center span. After the previous grating wore out, a new one was installed, causing drivers to complain that the replacement was slippery and difficult to cross. That grating was replaced with a new, "state of the art" grating, which also provoked controversy causing citizens to pressure theJacksonville City Council to act again concerning the grating. This initially only resulted in reducing the speed limit and roughing up the grating. In 2007, the bridge underwent a $12.9 million deck replacement project to replace the open grating over the center span with a concrete riding surface, and has since been reopened for public use.[4]
In the early afternoon on September 26, 2013, theMilitary Sealift Command shipUSNS 1st. Lt. Harry L. Martin collided with the center span of the Mathews Bridge. The damage caused to the bridge was sufficient that it was closed indefinitely until it could be inspected and repaired.[5] Following repairs, the Mathews Bridge reopened in the early morning of October 29, 2013.[6]
Part of the reason of the accident was because the charted height of the bridge was incorrect. The bridge owners (Florida Department of Transportation) notified the Coast Guard that the bridge was surveyed and the new height was 146 feet (45 m). This new measurement is 6 feet (1.8 m) lower than the previously published height.[7][8]
No notification of the vessel's height has been published by the Navy, but local news articles report that FDOT has evidence that the vessel's height was also5+1⁄2 feet (1.7 m) taller than its plans indicated.[9]
Crossings of theSt. Johns River | ||||
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