Drawbridges

1. Complaints regarding drawbridge operations should be addressed to:

FDOT Contact Person: John Deemer
US1 & A1A Maintenance Project Manager
3400 West Commercial Blvd. Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309
Main: (954) 777-4200 | Office: (954) 777-4450
Cell: (954) 495-7420 | FAX: (954) 777-4223
Email: John.Deemer@dot.state.fl.us

2. Procedures for Bridges

The US coast Guard controls the schedule of bridges. The procedures for bridge operation can be found in the Title 33-Chapter 1-Subchapter I - Part 117: Drawbridge Operation Regulations of the US Code of Federal Regulations.

3. Bridge Schedules

Hillsboro Boulevard Bridge Schedule

117.261 Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway from St. Mary's River to key Largo.

(a) General. Public of the united states and tugs with tows must be passed through the drawspan of each drawbridge listed in this section at anytime.

(bb) Broward County. (1) Hillsboro Boulevard bridge (SR810), mile 1050.0 at Deerfield Beach . The draw shall open on the hour and half-hour.

Hillsboro Boulevard Bridge

NE 14th Street Bridge

NE 14th Street Bridge Schedule

117.261 Atlantic Intercoastal Waterway from Waterway from St. Mary's River to Key Largo

(a) General. Public vessels of the United States and tugs with tows must be passed through the draw span of each drawbridge listed in this section at anytime.

(2) NE 14th Street bridge, mile 1055.0 at Pompano. The draw shall open on the quarter-hour and three-quarter hour.

Hillsboro Inlet Bridge Schedule

117.289 Hillsboro Inlet

The drawspans of the SR A-1-A Drawbridge, mile 0.3 at Hillsboro Beach, must be opened on signal; except from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., the drawspans need to be opened only on the hour, quarter hour, half hour, and three quarter hour. Public vessels of the United States and tugs with tows must be passed at anytime.

[USG-2001-10881,71FR 70310, Dec.4, 2006]

Hillsboro Inlet Bridge

4. Additional Information regarding Off-Schedule Openings and Discretionary Bridge Opening

117.31 Drawbridge operation for emergency vehicles and emergency vessels.

(a) Upon receiving notification that an emergency vehicle is responding to an emergency situation a drawtender must make all reasonable efforts to have the drawspan closed at the time the emergency vehicle arrives.

(b) When a drawtender receives notice, or a proper signal as provided in 117.15 of this part the drawtender shall take all reasonable measures to have the draw opened, regardless of the operating schedule of the draw for passage of the following, provided this opening does not conflict with local emergency management procedures which have been approved by the cognizant Coast Guard Captain of the Port:

(1) Federal, State, and local government vessels used for public safety;

(2) Vessels in distress where a delay would endanger life or property;

(3) Commercial vessels engaged in rescue or emergency salvage operations; and

(4) Vessels seeking shelter from severe weather.

[CGD 91-016, 58FR20, Jan. 4, 1993, as amended at 71 FR 70308, Dec. 4, 2006]

Vessels under duress or under tow have a priority as there navigational abilities are compromised.