Completed in 2002, it's a segmental bridge that carries traffic over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida.
Thank goodness for segmental bridges like the new Fuller Warren Bridge. The old bridge, built in 1954, was "antique-like" for the amount of traffic that Jacksonville, Florida boasts. You see the old bridge was a bascule which basically means a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic.
If you've never experienced a bascule, it means that the traffic has to STOP to wait while the bridge is raised and lowered to allow for boat traffic to pass below. That can mean lots of traffic jams and delays. Thankfully, there are not that many bascule bridges in Jacksonville today.
P.S. That's a picture of the OLD Fuller Warren bascule bridge! Thank you Jacksonville for the new bridge!!!
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Fuller Warren Bridge at a glance
The Fuller Warren Bridge is a segmental bridge that carries I-95 across the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. The current bridge was completed in 2002, replacing the original bascule bridge span built on June 7, 1954. The current bridge was designed by HNTB Corporation in 1990. The entire bridge is over . long, with a main span of , and a vertical clearance of . The bridge now carries eight lanes across the span.
The original bascule bridge was tolled until 1988, when the city of Jacksonville abolished toll collections.
Fuller Warren Bridge Factoids
Carries: Eight lanes of Interstate 95
Crosses: St. Johns River
Locale: Jacksonville, Florida
Maintained by: Florida Department of Transportation
ID number: 720156
Design: Segmental bridge
Longest span: 250 feet
Total length: 7500 feet
Width: Eight lanes
Vertical clearance: Unlimited
Clearance below: 75 feet
Opening date: 2002
Namesake: Fuller Warren
The Fuller Warren Bridge in Jacksonville, Florida is named for him. Fuller Warren was the 30th governor of the U.S. state of Florida.
Fuller Warren at a glance
Fuller Warren (October 3, 1905 - September 23, 1973) was the 30th governor of the U.S. state of Florida.
Born in Blountstown, Florida, he attended the University of Florida in Gainesville and was a member of the Tau Chapter of Theta Chi Fraternity. While attending the university, he was elected to the Florida House of Representatives at the age of 21 in 1927. Following graduation, he moved to Jacksonville, Florida and began practicing law. He served on the city council from 1931 until 1937 and returned to the Florida House in 1939. During World War II, he was a gunnery officer in the U.S. Navy. During the election for governor in 1948, the debate over whether Florida would become a "dry state" heated up. When asked on what he felt about banning the sale of alcohol, Warren replied famously:
:"If you mean the demon drink that poisons the mind, pollutes the body, desecrates family life, and inflames sinners, then Im against it. But if you mean the elixir of Christmas cheer, the shield against winter chill, the taxable potion that puts needed funds into public coffers to comfort little crippled children, then I'm for it. This is my position, and I will not compromise."
Fuller Warren won the election and assumed the office of governor on January 4, 1949. During his term, he set the foundations for the states turnpike system, began the Florida reforestation program, quality control programs on Florida's citrus crops were instituted and new laws were established that forbade cattle to wander freely. After he left office on January 6, 1953 he moved to Miami, Florida and practiced law. He ran for governor again in 1956, but lost the election to LeRoy Collins. He died in Miami in 1973.
The Fuller Warren Bridge in Jacksonville, Florida is named for him.
Fuller Warren Florida Inauguration / Letter Autograph
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One of 7 Bridges
The Fuller Warren Bridge is one of 7 bridges in Jacksonville, Florida which span the St. Johns River.
St. Johns River at a glance
The St. Johns River (officially Saint Johns River, but commonly spelled 'St. Johns River') is the longest river in the U.S. state of Florida, stretching 310 miles (500 km) from Indian River County to the Atlantic Ocean in Duval County. The St. Johns River is the second longest river in the United States that flows in a generally northward direction. It was designated as one of the American Heritage Rivers in 1997 and pegged by an environmental organization as the 6th Most Endangered River in America in 2008. [http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2008/2008-04-17-01.asp].
The elevation change from headwaters to mouth is only about 30 feet, making the St. Johns one of the worlds "laziest" rivers. Its extremely low velocity, combined with the generally level elevation, causes the St. Johns to spread out to a great width for much of its course. During periods of low flow, the river can be influenced by tides as far south as Lake Monroe - 161 miles inland. For a distance of over twenty miles before arriving at downtown Jacksonville, the river's average width exceeds two miles and in some places exceeds three miles in width. The slow flow of the St. Johns makes it difficult for pollutants to be flushed from the waters, which has become a serious problem for the river ecosystem. Still, the river is home to numerous species of plants and animals. It is not uncommon to see dolphins in the river east of Jacksonville and manatees in the springtime when the water warms up. Alligators, bald eagles, ospreys, stingrays, and many species of fish?both salt and fresh water?are found living in the river and on its banks. The entire basin is managed by the St. Johns Water Management District.
It's a segmental bridge
The Fuller Warren Bridge is a segmental bridge that carries I-95 across the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida. The current bridge was completed in 2002, replacing the original bascule bridge span built in 1954.
Segmental bridge at a glance
As its name implies, a segmental bridge is a bridge built in short sections (called segments), i.e., one piece at a time, as opposed to traditional methods that build a bridge in very large sections. The bridge is made of concrete that is either cast-in-place (constructed fully in its final location) or precast concrete (built at another location and then transported to their final location for placement in the full structure).
These bridges are very economical for long spans (over 100 meters), especially when access to the construction site is restricted. They are also chosen for their aesthetic appeal.
Bridge-Piling Blast Briefly Blocks I-95
Updated: 12:16 am EST December 21, 2006
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Traffic on Interstate 95 at the Fuller Warren Bridge was only interrupted for a few minutes Wednesday afternoon as a demolition crew imploded four pilings from the old span.
The pilings that were blasted stuck up about 8 feet above the water, but extended 20 feet into the water.
The detonation was scheduled for 1:31 p.m., but actually occurred 15 minutes later.
Department of Transportation officials said interstate traffic would be blocked for about 20 minutes, but "rolling roadblocks" were used and the bridge was only blocked for a few minutes.
The work comes after years of debate on whether to demolish the remnants of the old bridge, and how to do it.
Some have called the remnants of the old Fuller Warren an historic landmark and campaigned to save it as a fishing pier. Others say it is an eyesore and hazard to marine navigation.
During Super Bowl festivities on the river in February 2005, two Jacksonville police officers were hurt when their police boat struck one of the old bridge pilings.
A previous demolition effort was stopped in 2002 in a controversy over dumping debris in the river. The Florida Department of Transportation has agreed to haul off any large pieces of concrete.
A potential snag to Wednesday's implosion was manatees and other wildlife too close to the blast area. Horns went off before the blast in an attempt to scare creatures away, but if any were spotted within 900 feet, the detonation would have been delayed by 30 minutes.
The DOT said several additional blasting days are scheduled next month. Blasting should be complete by the end of January. --www.news4jax.com.
"The demolition and blasting of the old bascule bridge had a lot of media coverage!"
Fuller Warren Bridge demolition videos
It was originally a bascule bridge
The Fuller Warren Bridge was originally a bascule bridge built in 1954.
Bascule bridge at a glance
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic. Bascule is a French term for seesaw and balance, and bascule bridges operate along the same principle. They are the most common type of movable bridge in existence because they open quickly and require relatively little energy to operate.
Bascule bridges may be single or double leaf. Double leaf bridges usually have any truss structure and counterweights below the deck, while a single leaf bridge is typically a truss bridge with an elevated counterweight.
Water Regulators OK Demolition Of Old Fuller Warren Bridge
Posted: 3:50 pm EDT July 12, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The St. Johns River Water Management District's governing board Tuesday approved a permit to demolish what's left of the old Fuller Warren Bridge.
The Florida Department of Transportation had requested an environmental resource permit to allow it to take the rest of the span down.
Several people, including St. Johns Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon, have proposed turning the old bridge into a fishing pier instead of tearing it down.
City and state officials said it would cost $2.7 million to convert the remaining span to pedestrian use -- more than the cost of building a fishing pier from scratch. Southbank business interests also oppose the idea because of limited public access and parking in the area.
The work began in 2002, but was halted amid environmental concerns about debris falling into the St. Johns River.
To protect the water quality, the water-management permit will require various demolition techniques for different portions of the bridge. Workers must also use a clamshell dredge to remove debris and place barges below the decking to catch falling debris.
The permit allows the work to be completed anytime within the next five years. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers must also approve the project before the DOT can proceed with demolition. --www.news4jax.com.
Another Fuller Warren Bridge demolition video
Old Fuller Warren Bridge Conversion Would Cost $2.7 Million
Posted: 1:18 pm EDT April 26, 2005
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- City and state officials are still trying to decide what to do with the remains of the old Fuller Warren Bridge. According to the results of a Jacksonville Waterways Commission study released Tuesday, transforming the bridge into a fishing pier would cost $2.7 million.
City and state officials have been at odds over whether to convert the former Interstate 95 link across the St. Johns River into a pedestrian pier or demolish it, as was originally planned in 2002. When complaints from environmentalists came in about how the state was disposing of the debris, federal authorities halted the work, and some -- such as St. Johns Riverkeeper Neil Armingeon -- proposed turning the bridge into a fishing pier instead.
Commissioners now plan to review the study and vote on recommendations at their next meeting, scheduled for May 5. Department of Transportation officials have said they will demolish the existing structure if the conversion to a fishing pier is deemed too expensive. --www.news4jax.com.
Historic Jacksonville, Florida
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DOT Won't Dump Old Bridge Debris In River
Posted: 2:53 pm EDT July 9, 2004
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Mayor John Peyton said Friday that the Florida Department of Transportation has agreed to dispose of the remains of the old Fuller Warren Bridge on land rather than at the bottom of the river.
Peyton said FDOT Secretary Jose Abreau called him to say he'd agreed to "upland disposal."
Regulatory agencies argued the concrete is inert and not hazardous, but river activists were appalled at plans to dump 40,000 tons of the old concrete and steel bridge into the St. Johns River.
Last month City Council passed an emergency resolution to prevent the action, and hundreds turned out for public meetings on the subject.
"It's in violation of the permit; it's in violation of the contract that we signed with ... with the people that were doing the bridge removal," City Council member Jim Tullis said Thursday at a fiery meeting of the Jacksonville Waterways Commission.
"Contrary to what you've heard today, we're not about the business of trashing the river," DOT district secretary Aage Schroeder told the commission.
When debris from the Fuller Warren Bridge was being dumped in the St. Johns River in 2002, federal authorities halted the work. Since then, the state and city have been trying to come to an agreement on how to tear it down.
"They failed to give serious consideration to the environmental impacts to the St. Johns and were completely ignoring the will of the people," St. Johns Riverkeeper, Neil Armingeon, said Friday. "I guess they finally realized that Riverkeeper, the public, and our elected officials were absolutely not going to allow this to happen."
The DOT said it will cost about $2.5 million more to cart away the debris and dispose of it on land. It said will try to have demolition completed before next February's Super Bowl, but cannot guarantee that. --www.news4jax.com.
The buzz on the Fuller Warren Bridge
- Fuller Warren Bridge closure announced
- Jacksonville officials are advising motorists that northbound Fuller Warren Bridge will be closed to...
- 8:25 am UPDATE: Wednesday morning traffic report
- An accident on I-95 southbound near the Beaches exit is cleared but traffic is still backed up along...
- ROADBLOCK ON THE FULLER WARREN BRIDGE
- There are no phones, gas stations, or friends on my side the St Johns River and I have to pay a toll...
- wither @ 2008-08-19T21:54:00
- at most i'm just really annoyed i'll have to go to work and end up driving through this stupid storm...
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