Memorial Bridge (Palatka, Florida)

Memorial Bridge

Coordinates	29°38′45″N 81°37′22″W / 29.64583°N 81.62278°W / 29.64583; -81.62278Coordinates: 29°38′45″N 81°37′22″W / 29.64583°N 81.62278°W / 29.64583; -81.62278
Carries	4 lanes of US 17 / SR 100 / SR 15 2 sidewalks
Crosses	St. Johns River
Locale	Palatka, Florida
Official name	Memorial Bridge
Maintained by	Florida Department of Transportation
Characteristics
Design	continuous prestressed concrete box girder bridge
Total length	4,020 feet (1,230 m)
Clearance below	65 feet (20 m)
History
Opened	1976

Memorial Bridge spans the St. Johns River and connects Palatka to East Palatka, Florida. The bridge is the only permanent vehicle crossing between Green Cove Springs and Astor. As such, the bridge is an important part of connecting the region. Both US 17 and SR 100 use the bridge as a river crossing.

The first bridge spanning this portion of river was constructed by the Palatka Bridge Company in 1888 and was built for rail operated vehicles.^[1] The first concrete bridge was completed in 1927 and carried two lanes of vehicular traffic. The former draw bridge was built to honor the military personnel of Putnam County. Four bronze military service men statues proudly watched over the bridge, with two standing guard at each side. Today, the span continues to commemorate the men and women of Putnam County serving in the military. The Doughboy statues can still be seen at the foot of the current bridge.

Completed in 1976, the four lane bridge is 4,020 ft long and has a vertical clearance of 65 ft.^[2] Public parks lie at both ends of the bridge; Goodwin Riverfront Park is on the west end in Palatka, and Veterans Memorial Park is on the east end in East Palatka.

References

↑ Speedway to Sunshine: the story of the Florida East Coast Railway archived at Google books retrieved 26-01-2011
↑ Memorial Bridge over the St. Johns archived at Frans Place retrieved 24-01-2011

Crossings of the St. Johns River

Upstream
Fort Gates Ferry

Memorial Bridge

Downstream
Shands Bridge

Notable bridges and tunnels in Florida

Panhandle	Escambia Bay Garcon Point John Gorrie Mid-Bay Pensacola Bay St. George Island Trammell Victory

North	Acosta Bridge of Lions Main Street Buckman Dames Point Fuller Warren Hart Mathews Memorial Strauss Trunnion Thomas B. Manuel Blue Heron Flagler Memorial

West Central	Bayside Blackburn Point Bridge^‡ Clearwater Memorial Courtney Campbell Gandy Howard Frankland Pinellas Bayway Sunshine Skyway Treasure Island

East Central	A. Max Brewer Astor Bennett Bert Dosh Broadway Eau Gallie Granada Melbourne Merritt Island NASA Osteen Pineda Port Orange Roosevelt Sebastian Inlet Wabasso Merrill P. Barber Alma Lee Loy Whitehair

South	Broad Coral Springs^† Julia Tuttle John F. Kennedy Lehman MacArthur Rickenbacker Snow-Reed^‡ Venetian

Southwest	Boca Grande^‡ Bonita Beach Caloosahatchee Cape Coral Edison John Ringling Matanzas Pass Midpoint Sanibel S.S. Jolley

Keys	Bahia Honda Card Sound Jewfish Creek Long Key Overseas Highway Seven Mile

Tunnels	Henry E. Kinney Port of Miami

Ferries	Drayton Island Fort Gates Mayport

^† – Covered bridge ^‡ – Swing bridge See also: List of bridges in Florida

Putnam County, Florida points and events of interest

Galleries and museums	Bronson-Mulholland House Browning Railroad Museum Florida School of the Arts Larimer Art Center Palatka Water Works Tilghman House

Parks and nature	Carl Duval Moore State Forest Deep Creek Conservation Area Dunns Creek State Park Etoniah Creek State Forest Ravine Gardens State Park Ocala National Forest Water Works Environmental Education Center Welaka State Forest Welaka National Fish Hatchery & Aquarium

Areas of interest	Downtown Palatka & Historic Lemon Street Palatka North Historic District Palatka South Historic District Palatka Heights Newtown Welaka Crescent City Historic District Putnam County Business Park

Other points of interest	Barge Port Central Academy Drayton Island Drayton Island Ferry Florida Trail Fort Gates Ferry Memorial Bridge Mount Royal Palatka Golf Club Palatka Union Depot Rodman Reservoir St. Johns River State College

Events	Blue Crab Festival Bostwick Blueberry Festival Florida Azalea Festival Hog Waller Mug Race Palatka Bluegrass Festival Putnam County Agricultural Fair St. Johns River Catfish Festival

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Memorial Bridge (Palatka, Florida)

See also

References