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Stuart, FL Railroad Bridge to Close May 1 for 21 days

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Carver440, Feb 21, 2023.

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  1. Carver440, Feb 21, 2023
    #1
    Carver440

    Carver440 New Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2006
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    Location:
    Cleveland, OH
    From Lina Ruiz, Treasure Coast Newspapers:

    STUART — The channel through the St. Lucie River railroad bridge in downtown Stuart will be closed to boaters for 21 days starting May 1. The U.S. Coast Guard approved the closure proposed by Brightline, which says the closure is needed to renovate the 98-year-old bridge.

    What happened
    • U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brendan McPherson told Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fort Pierce, in a letter on Friday that the agency is allowing Brightline to move forward with the 21-day closure.
    • Mast on Jan. 19 requested an analysis on the economic impacts of the closure. The Coast Guard, McPherson said, “conducted extensive outreach to our local, state and federal maritime partners” and “engaged with local marine interests to include evaluating concerns of local marinas and the Marine Industries Association Treasure Coast.”
    Why it matters:
    • Marine navigation be impeded for three weeks at local and state levels. Access to the Okeechobee Waterway, which bisects Florida between Stuart and Fort Myers, will be blocked.
    • This keeps Brightline on track to begin passenger-rail service this year between West Palm Beach and Orlando International Airport.
    What they said
    • Mast: “It never stops. This is going to be a major disruption to hundreds of boaters who rely on access to the Intracoastal, not to mention have a huge impact for businesses on both sides of the bridge. I find it hard to believe that this was the best that Brightline could do. Instead, it’s just forced our community to pick the lesser of two evils.”
    • McPherson: “The Coast Guard remains dedicated to our responsibility of protecting the rights of navigation on our nation’s navigable waters and understands that any obstruction to those waterways is impactful. We also remain mindful of potential unplanned impacts of neglected maintenance of bridges which intersect our waterways.”
  2. Capt Ralph, Feb 21, 2023
    #2
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2004
    Messages:
    13,436
    Location:
    Satsuma, FL
    East Coast Alerts, 2/17/23;


    FL—St Lucie RR Bridge to Close for Repairs: See the below update from a local marina manager.
    From: Matthew Moritz <matt@sunsetbaymarinaandanchorage.com> Date: Mon, Jan 30, 2023 at 9:02 AM
    Subject: St. Lucie River FEC Railroad Drawbridge Closure 5/1 - 5/21
    Starting May 1st at 6 Am until May 21st, the St Lucie River Railroad Bridge will be closed for repairs.

    Prior to the full-time navigational closure on the 1st, there will be nighttime closures to vessel traffic starting on April 19th, where the FEC railroad drawbridge will be closed from 8 pm to 6 am, at which time the bridge will operate normally. Upon reopening of the bridge to vessel traffic, there will be an additional period of nighttime closures for approximately 7 days, or May 22nd to 28th, from 8 pm to 6 am.