| Canaveral Barge Canal | |
|---|---|
 Barge canal, looking towards the Christa McAuliffe Bridge | |
 | |
| Location | Brevard County, Florida |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 28°24′33″N80°41′37″W / 28.40917°N 80.69361°W /28.40917; -80.69361 |
| Specifications | |
| Maximumboat draft | 12 feet (3.7 m)[1] |
| Locks | 1 |
| Totalrise | 3–4 feet (0.91–1.22 m)[1] |
| Status | Open |
| Navigation authority | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| History | |
| Date of first use | January 1, 1965 |
| Geography | |
| Start point | Atlantic Ocean |
| End point | Indian River |
| Connects to | Banana River,Port Canaveral,Intracoastal Waterway,Sykes Creek |
TheCanaveral Barge Canal is an activecanal inBrevard County, Florida, cutting east-west across northernMerritt Island just south ofCape Canaveral. It connects theAtlantic Ocean andPort Canaveral with theIndian River and widerIndian River Lagoon, part of theIntracoastal Waterway. The canal consists of two segments separated by theBanana River.[2]
The canal was constructed by theU.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1965 to allow the transport of crude oil by barge to two power plants south ofTitusville, Florida. The design was expanded during the planning stage to enable the transport ofSaturn rocket stages toNASA'sKennedy Space Center for theApollo program.[1]
Canaveral Lock, the canal's onlylock and the largest navigation lock in Florida, is located on the eastern segment. It has arise of 3–4 feet (0.91–1.22 m) and protects Canaveral Harbor from tidal currents, storm surge, and salt water. The lock is free of charge and takes 20 to 30 minutes for watercraft to traverse.[1]
Vessels withdrafts up to 12 feet (3.7 m) may use the canal,[1] which was intended forbarges but notships (the adjacent Port Canaveral allows drafts up to 39.5 feet (12.0 m)[3]). The canal is popular with recreational boaters, providing access to Sykes Creek and various marinas. The next-closest passages between the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean arePonce de Leon Inlet, 50 miles (80 km) to the north, andSebastian Inlet, 40 miles (64 km) to the south.[2]
| Bridge | Type | Carries | Location | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christa McAuliffe Bridge | Basculedrawbridge |  SR 3 / Courtenay Parkway | Merritt Island | 28°24′26″N80°42′24″W / 28.40722°N 80.70667°W /28.40722; -80.70667 |
| Barge Canal Bridge |  SR 401 | Cape Canaveral | 28°24′32″N80°37′55″W / 28.40889°N 80.63194°W /28.40889; -80.63194 |
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