It's a 1.1 mile highway bridge over the St. Johns River south of Jacksonville, Florida.
What's interesting about this bridge is that it is THE only bridge crossing of the St. Johns River between Jacksonville and Palatka. It's actually located in Green Cove Springs.
In 2004, proposals were made to replace or upgrade the span. Problems cited include increasing traffic in the Clay County and St. Johns County areas, safety, and the inability of large boats to travel upriver.
In the fall of 2005, the railings of the bridge were upgraded to solid concrete barriers in an effort to reduce over-bridge fatalities. This bridge and the nearby road continue to be too often associated with terrible accidents.
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The "New" Shands Bridge + St. Johns River
Shands Bridge at a glance
The Shands Bridge is a highway bridge over the St. Johns River near Jacksonville, Florida. The span was first opened in 1929. It was located just north of the current span, crossing from Orangedale to the present Shands pier on the west side of the river.
The current bridge was dedicated on October 30, 1963, and features a beam-type construction for a total of two lanes. The bridge is part of SR 16 and is the only crossing of the St. Johns River between Jacksonville and Palatka.
In 2004, proposals were made to replace or upgrade the span. Problems cited include increasing traffic in the Clay County and St. Johns County areas, safety, and the inability of large boats to travel upriver. One plan would put a new bridge north of the existing one, connecting to extensions of SR 9B and SR 23. In the fall of 2005, the railings of the bridge were upgraded to solid concrete barriers in an effort to reduce over-bridge fatalities.
This graphic shows the placement of the old and new Shand Bridges
Shands Bridge Factoids
Carries: 2 general purpose lanes
Crosses: St. Johns River
Locale: Green Cove Springs, Florida
Maintained by: Florida Department of Transportation
ID number: 780056
Design: steel stringer/multi-beam or girder bridge
Longest span: 39.6 meters (130 feet)
Total length: 2030.6 meters (6662 feet)
Width: 10.4 meters (34 feet)
Vertical clearance: N/A
Clearance below: 13.7 meters (45 feet)
Opening date: 1963
OLD Shands Bridge: View from the new bridge
Only Bridge Over the St. Johns River ...
The bridge is part of SR 16 and is the only crossing of the St. Johns River between Jacksonville and Palatka.
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 Jacksonville in Duval County. The Saint Johns is north-flowing, which is somewhat unusual among U.S. rivers
The elevation change from headwaters to mouth is only about 30 feet, making the St. Johns one of the worlds "laziest" rivers. Extremely low velocity and low volume of flow, combined with the generally level elevation, cause 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 some points exceed 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. 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 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.
Some interesting books on the St. Johns River
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2004: Why not expand the existing Shands Bridge to 4 lanes?
The Project Development and Environmental Study (PD&E) is a detailed process by which major transportation projects are developed by the Florida Department of Transportation.
More on "expanding the existing Shands Bridge"
Additionally, widening the Shands Bridge would simply move the traffic congestion bottleneck from the bridge to SR 13 in St. Johns County or SR 16 in Clay County. This additional traffic on SR 13 would be detrimental to any attempts to preserve SR 13 as a scenic highway. --www.sjrbridge.com.
Shands Bridge Safety Improvements
Updated: 3/25/2005 5:47:59pm
By Deanna Fene', First Coast News.CLAY COUNTY, FL -- Construction on the Shands Bridge near Greencove Springs is underway. Crews started work this week to add new, higher railings. The project was added to the Florida Department of Transportation work program after two fatal crashes in 2003. Both cars went over the side of the bridge.
One of the victims was 39-year-old Sheri Hamilton, a wife and mother of two. Her husband, Jeff, is still grieving.
"It's still hard. There are times things remind me of her," he said.
Hamilton lost his wife in September of 2003 when the car she was driving was pushed over the side of the Shands Bridge. He doesn't blame the bridge for his wife's death; he blames the drivers of two separate trucks.
"The ladder in the road and then the big concrete truck who wasn't paying attention to where he was going was the cause of the accident," he said.
According to the homicide report, the accident happened when an Airmax truck dropped a ladder onto the bridge. Sheri Hamilton stopped her car to try to get around the ladder, but a huge Florida Rock cement truck did not stop in time and ended up rear-ending Mrs. Hamilton, pushing her car over the side of the bridge.
Jeff Hamilton says even if the sides of the bridge were much higher, it wouldn't have saved his wife's life.
"I don't think so. When you have a big truck hit you from the rear-end, the impact is going to push you over anything."
Hamilton knows he can never get his wife back, but he says he still wants justice and is suing the two trucking companies -- Airmax and Florida Rock.
Donald Maciejewski, his attorney, said: "They want to see drivers better trained and more alert. They want to see equipment aboard vehicles secured so it doesn't come loose and cause traffic hazards."
The trial was originally scheduled for April but was recently pushed back to January.
The cost to make the bridge safer is $1.5 million. Construction will last for the next five months. --www.firstcoastnews.com.
The buzz on the Shands Bridge
- Local drivers won't pay toll over Shands Bridge after all ...
- Subhead: Many residents don't think the bridge needs to be replaced and don't see a need for the Bel...
- June 27 through July 2, 2009 traffic advisor
- The Shands Bridge over the St. Johns River between Clay and St. Johns Counties, will be reduced to o...
- Shands Bridge
- TFDOTR posted a photo: Shands Bridge. Crossing the St. Johns River to Green Cove Springs.
- Shands Bridge closed; motorists urged to find another route
- The Shands Bridge on State Road 16 near the St. Johns-Clay county line is temporarily closed because...
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Three Children Killed in Crash Near Shands Bridge
Updated: 2/20/2007 8:11:27pm
By Jessica Clark, First Coast News.JACKSONVILLE, FL -- A head-on collision near the Shands Bridge killed two little girls and a young boy Monday afternoon.
The crash happened just west of the Shands Bridge.
"There was a lot of chaos involved, and of course, you can imagine, given the number of people involved and the people coming out to the scene trying to help out and so (it was) very chaotic," said Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson Lt. Bill Leeper.
The Florida Highway Patrol said a 1995 Toyota Pickup, driven by Elmer E. Polite, 66, of St. Augustine, crossed the center line into the path of oncoming traffic.
The pickup truck slammed into a 2000 Chrysler van. The van had four people from the Donatelli family inside. 36-year-old Ernest Donatelli and 35-year-old Michele Donatelli were taken to Shands Jacksonville with minor injuries. Seven-year-old Nicholas Donatelli and two-year-old Isabella Donatelli were not hurt. All had their seatbelts on.
The pickup careened into a second car, a 2001 Chrysler Van with five people inside. The driver, Lisa Buttafuoco of Stroudsburg, PA, was taken to Shands with serious injuries. 56-year-old Anne Fiore, of Wantagu, New York, was taken to Shands with minor injuries. 55-year-old John Fiore was taken to Shands with minor injuries. Five-year-old Michael Buttafuoco and three-year-old Ann Marie Buttafuoco were killed. The FHP said all had their seatbelts on as well.
After hitting the second van, the pickup spun around and rolled before crashing into a third vehicle, a 2004 Dodge truck with two people inside. Mark Rosales, 24, and passenger Sarah Fiore were taken to Shands Jacksonville with minor injuries. Authorities say the two had their seatbelts on at the time of the crash.
Victoria Brandt, 8, was killed after being ejected from the pickup truck as it rolled. The FHP says Brandt didn't have a seatbelt on. A three-year-old child, Jazelle Coffmen, was taken to Shands with minor injuries. Coffmen was wearing a seatbelt. The crash report does not indicate whether Polite had his seatbelt on, but authorities say charges are pending.
"It's difficult," said Lt. Leeper. "You go to these scenes a lot and you try not to let it affect you but it does. Particularly when there are young people involved."
The last fatal crash was in September 2003, when 39-year old Sherry Hamilton swerved to avoid a ladder in the road. A Florida Rock concrete truck struck her in the back, sending Hamilton over the side to a watery death.
That prompted the Department of Transportation to raise the guardrails to a height of 34-inches at a cost of nearly $2 million.
It is a narrow roadway, described by many drivers as, "claustrophobic." --www.firstcoastnews.com.
In Loving Memory: Michael and Annemarie Buttafuoco
4 car accident in Clay County, Florida near the Shands bridge
In Loving Memory Of Michael and Annemarie Buttafuoco
Michael was only 5 years old and Annemarie only 3 years when tragedy tore them from our lives and hearts. They died in a 4 car accident in Clay County Florida near the Shands bridge on a road too often associated with terrible accidents. On February 19, 2007, A man driving an SUV crossed into the lane of traffic containing three cars full of our family. Many were rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Bones mended, bruises lessened but the scars and loss of Michael and Annemarie will never heal! This is to honor their memory. We will never forget!!!!!!!!!
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Drop me a line ...
Are you familiar with the Shands Bridge and the road associated with too many terrible accidents? Would you like to share your thoughts?
My deepest sympathy to the Buttafuoco and Fiores and all their family. I appreciate you expressing your thoughts about this dangerous road.
Anonymous wrote
I remember seeing photos on tv about this accident and thought I can believe the news is showing this scene. I will never forget how my heart sank that day for your family. I never got to see the follow up on your situation until today. I'm very disgusted with the outcome. I can't believe you did not go after the carseat industry. For those seats should be better tested. Every year there is some deadly accident on that bridge, I hate driving that bridge. I hope you never stop fighting for justice. My thoughts and prays are with you.
Posted May 27, 2008
Josephine Gast wrote
I am one who really loves Florida. I live on Long Island but Florida to me was like a wonderful place to go and maybe live there one day but since my Family were in that terrible accident there on that bridge my mind has changed about Florida and its laws. My feeling is if there is something that could be done to help the future of that area it should be done and just not thought about. Three young children didn't have a chance on that bridge Espically when a man can continue to drive after so many convictions on his record and to think that he even would be driving around 2 children in his truck. What was the mother thinking that allowed that. I KNow his soul can't rest with what he did. He can deny What he did all he wants but the truth is the truth. So all in all if there is something that can be done to that bridge to make it safer do it and at the same time keep guys like Mr Polite off the roads.
Posted February 23, 2008
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