The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and its local and state partners held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Thursday, November 30, to celebrate the opening of the new State Road (S.R.) 44 Bridge.
The new bridge connects Volusia and Lake counties over the St. Johns River with a fixed-span structure, eliminating the need for movable parts and enhancing mobility, accessibility, and safety. With a vertical clearance of 45 feet, the bridge facilitates seamless passage for taller marine vessels without disrupting the flow of vehicle traffic.
FDOT District Five Secretary John Tyler, Volusia County Chair Jeff Brower, Lake County Chairman Kirby Smith, Sen. Tom Wright and other local elected officials, legislative aides, and representatives from FDOT and the bridge contractor cut the ribbon on the new State Road 44 Bridge over the St. Johns River between Volusia and Lake counties on November 30, 2023.
Traffic is expected to be shifted from the current bascule bridge (drawbridge) to the newly constructed fixed-span bridge on Friday, December 1. Access to Ed Stone Park, St. Johns Marina, Shady Oaks Restaurant, Captain Jed’s Airboat Rides, and other properties along Old New York Avenue will also be modified upon the opening of the new bridge; access to all properties will be maintained. Demolition of the drawbridge is expected to begin in the coming weeks.
The speakers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony were FDOT District Five Secretary John Tyler, P.E.; Volusia County Council Chair Jeff Brower; and Lake County District Three Commissioner and Chairman Kirby Smith.
The opening of the new S.R. 44 Bridge marks a significant milestone in FDOT’s $47 million bridge replacement project. Additional improvements include an updated traffic signal at the intersection of S.R. 44 and County Road 42, improved access roads to and from the bridge, two new stormwater management ponds, and a 12-foot-wide shared-use path along the length of the bridge designed to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety with future anticipated trail connectivity.
“Volusia and Lake counties are vibrant, growing communities with 14,000 motorists using the bridge over the St. Johns River every day,” Secretary Tyler said. “The new State Road 44 Bridge is a modern design that will improve safety and connectivity for all users.”
Lake and Volusia counties have been linked by a bridge carrying State Road 44 over the St. Johns River for more than a century. The first bridge near this site was the Crows Bluff Bridge, a wooden-decked swing span structure constructed in 1917. It was replaced in November 1955 by the current S.R. 44 bascule bridge, named after Francis P. Whitehair, who was a State Road Department District Five Board Member and former U.S. Navy Undersecretary.
