If you're planning on taking the Intracoastal Waterway up or down the East Coast, you'll first need to do some careful research – especially around the openings, closings, height restrictions, and contact information of the ICW's many bridges.
Note: In this first iteration of the bridge guide below, we've focused on the Atlantic ICW, from Mile Marker 0 in Norfolk, VA, down through Key West, Florida. We also included bridges on the Okeechobee Waterway, but have not yet expanded our guide north of Norfolk, or to cover the Gulf of Mexico. Perhaps in another version, but this is a good start. :) If you like this guide or have feedback, you know the drill: email becky@dockwa.com.
Without further ado, we present our first ICW bridge guide. We hope you find it useful!
Update: We've heard from a bunch of boaters that 1) they LOVE this post and 2) they'd like to see Mile Markers included. So we're going to work on it! If you'd like to help, hit me up: becky@dockwa.com.
6'
10'
Usually open except for passage of trains.
35'
Opens on demand from 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. Will not open weekdays from 6:30-8:30 AM and 3:30-5:30 PM.
7'
Usually open except for passage of trains.
6'
Opens on the hour from 6 AM to 7 PM. Otherwise upon request.
7'
Usually open, except for the passage of trains
4'
Opens on the hour and half-hour from 8:30 AM to 4 PM weekdays. Does not open weekdays from 6:30 to 8:30 AM and 4 to 6 PM. All other
3'
Opens on the hour and half-hour from 6 AM to 7 PM. All other times on request.
65'
4'
Bridge operates in conjuction with the Deep Creek lock, and both are operated by the locktender. Opens at roughly 8:30 AM, 11 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
4'
Opens in conjunction with South Mills Lock, so operates on the same schedule: 8:30 AM, 11 AM, 1:30 PM, and 3:30 PM.
2'
Opens on request, except on weekdays from 7 to 9 AM and 4 to 6 PM. During these hours there are openings at 7:30 and 8:30 AM and 4:30 and 5:30 PM.
0'
Usually open for boats traveling on the canal. This bridge is generally closed at night.
3'
Usually open, except for the passage of trains.
14'
Will open on demand 24 hours; will not open in high winds.
13'
No openings Mon-Fri 6:30-8 AM and 4:30-6 PM. Other times and weekends on the hour and half-hour from 6 AM-11 PM.
14'
Weekdays from 6:30-8:30 AM and 4-6 PM the bridge is closed but will open upon request. Additionally, the bridge will not open from 2-7 PM from May 24 - September 8.
0'
Bridge is typically closed from 7:30 - 10 AM during weekdays, but will open on demand.
12'
Will open on hour and half-hour daily. Use northwest draw. May be closed during Camp Lejeune excercises by the USMC.
12'
Will open on the hour 7 AM to 7 PM. Won't open in high winds.
20'
Will open on the hour and half-hour. Won't open in high winds.
20'
Will open on the hour from 7 AM to 7 PM.
65'
Opens on request except for the following times to accompany races: Second Saturday of July: 7-9 AM First or second Sunday Sunday of November: 7-11 AM
4'
Usually open, except for the passage of trains.
16'
Usually open except for the passage of trains
31'
Weekdays: opens upon request except between 7-9 AM and 4-6 PM. Weekends and holidays: opens on the hour from 9 AM to 7 PM, and otherwise upon request.
33'
April 1 to November 30: Mon-Fri 9 AM to 3:30 PM and Sat-Sun 9 AM to 7 PM, opens on the hour and half-hour. December 1 to March 30: 9 AM to 4 PM, opens on request, with last opening at 3:50. April 1 to May 31 and Oct 1 to Nov 30: Mon-Fri except holidays, closed 6 - 9 AM and 4 - 6:30 PM. June 1 to Setpember 30 and Dec 1 to March 30: Mon-Fri except holidays, closed 6:30 - 9 AM and 4 - 6:30 PM.
30'
Mon-Fri, except holidays, closed from 6:30 - 9 AM and 3 - 6 PM, opens on hour from 9 AM to 3 PM. Otherwise including weekends and holidays, opens on request.
21'
Mon-Fri: From 6:30 - 9 AM and 4:30-6:30 PM , will open only at 7 AM, 8 AM, and 5:30 PM. All other times, will open upon request.
15'
Bridge under construction until 2021
8'
Will open on request if at least three hours advance notice is given to the Georgia Department of Transportation Area Engineer in Savannah.
23'
From 7 AM to 6 PM, opens on request every hour and half-hour, except Monday-Friday, there are no openings at 8 AM, noon, and 5 PM. All other times upon request.
40'
A temporary schedule has been implemented by the Coast Guard while the bridge is under construction: This bridge will only open at 12 midnight, 4 AM, 6:45 AM, 12 noon, 4:15 PM, and 8 PM seven days a week except on Federal holidays and Jaguars game days. A four hour notice will be granted for commercial vessels and will only lift to 60' vertical clearance at a maximum of 30 mph gusts. If additional clearance is needed, cruisers can request a maintenance lift four hours in advance. Once construction is completed, the bridge will open on signal except from 7-8:30 AM and 4:30-6 PM Monday through Saturday, when the bridge will not be opened.
5'
Usually open except for the passage of trains.
5'
Usually open except for passage of trains.
2'
Usually open except for the passage of trains. When a train is approaching, a horn sounds and the lights turn from green to a flashing red.
23'
From 7 AM to 7 PM, opens on the hour and half-hour. At other times, opens on request.
27'
Opens on request, except Mon-Fri from 6:30 - 8 AM and 3:30 - 5 PM.
2'
A 24 hour advance notice must be given to CSX at all times by calling 1-800-232-0142.
7'
Open except for the passage of trains.
25'
Opens on signal except from 6:30-8 AM and 3:30-5:15 PM Monday through Friday. Between 10 PM-5:59 AM, three hours notice must be given for the bridge to open.
7'
Open except for the passage of train. Bridge will close 8 minutes after red lights begin flashing and open about 5 minutes after the train has passed.
7'
Open except for the passage of trains.
35'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
35'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
24'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
17'
Opens at quarter past the hour except at 8:15 AM and 4:15 PM on weekdays.
22'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
14'
Opens on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour.
7'
Open except for the passage of trains. This bridge is not usually tended.
14'
Opens on signal except Monday through Friday from 7 AM - 6 PM where it will open on the hour and half-hour. The bridge will not open between 7:30-9 AM and 4-5:30 PM, except at 8:15 AM and 4:45 PM. On Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, from 8 AM-6 PM, the bridge will open on the hour, 20 minutes past the hour, and 40 minutes past the hour.
7'
The bridge will open on signal except from 10 PM-6 AM where you will need to give three hours notice for the bridge to open.
20'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
21'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
12'
Opens on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour.
30'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
25'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
15'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
9'
Opens on the hour, 20 minutes past the hour, and 40 minutes past the hour.
16'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
21'
Opens on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour.
15'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
15'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
22'
Opens on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour.
25'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
24'
Opens on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour.
55'
Opens on request on the hour and half-hour.
22'
Opens on the hour and half-hour.
22'
Opens on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour.
25'
Opens on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour.
22'
Opens on the quarter hour and three-quarter hour from 7:15 AM to 6:15 PM.
30'
On weekdays, opens on the quarter-hour and three-quarter hour, 7 AM to 6 PM, and on weekdends and holidays: 10 AM to 6 PM. All other times, opens on request.
16'
Opens on the quarter-hour and three-quarter hour from 8 AM - 6 PM. At all other times, upon request.
12'
Weekdays from 7 AM to 7 PM, from November 1 to April 30, opens on request on the hour and half-hour. Other times, opens on request.
22'
Usually open except for the passage of trains.
27'
Opens on the hour from 6 AM to 6 PM. Opens on request at all other times.
Post by Adrian Mott
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