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Broadway Bridge (Daytona Beach)
Encyclopedia
The Broadway Bridge is a segmental bridge
that spans the Halifax River
and Intracoastal Waterway
in downtown Daytona Beach, Florida
, carrying U.S. Route 92
.
The Broadway Bridge reaches a height of 65 feet (19.9 m) and is 3,008 feet (917 m) in length. The bridge is more famous for its flair than its purpose. Mosaics of manatee
s, dolphin
s and other wildlife
native to Florida
give the bridge some tourist appeal.
The bridge was dedicated on July 20, 2001.
), President of Central of Florida Railway Company, petitioned the Corps for the new bridge which he planned to use for his company's electric trolley system, that would connect the cities of Daytona, Daytona Beach, and Seabreeze
(separate cities at the time, before consolidating in 1926) across the Halifax River.
The bridge was simply referred to as the concrete bridge for many years, until it started to be called the Broadway Bridge. It likely picked up the name because it connected to Broadway Avenue (now named International Speedway Blvd.) on the beach side.
and Florida State Road 600. The Florida State Road Department
determined a new four lane drawbridge was needed to replace the old structure. Tidewater Construction Corporation of Norfolk, Virginia
, was awarded the contract to construct the bridge, and started work on February 6, 1947. The overall length was 1777 feet with a channel span of 104 feet, allowing 90 foot clearance with the double leaf bascule (drawbridge) open.
The second Broadway Bridge over the Halifax River was officially opened on November 8, 1948, and dedicated in honor of Robert T. Carleton, Road Department member of the Fifth District and Elmer Blank, Volusia County Commissioner. Although the name "Carleton-Blank Bridge" appeared on state maps, the local community continued to refer to the structure as the Broadway Bridge.
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Segmental bridge
As its name implies, a segmental bridge is a bridge built in short sections , i.e., one piece at a time, as opposed to traditional methods that build a bridge in very large sections...
that spans the Halifax River
Halifax River
The Halifax River is part of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, located in northeast Volusia County, Florida. The waterway was originally known as the North Mosquito River, but was renamed after George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax, during the British occupation of Florida .-Geography:The...
and Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
in downtown Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach, Florida
Daytona Beach is a city in Volusia County, Florida, USA. According to 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimates, the city has a population of 64,211. Daytona Beach is a principal city of the Deltona – Daytona Beach – Ormond Beach, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area, which the census bureau estimated had...
, carrying U.S. Route 92
U.S. Route 92
U.S. Route 92 is a 177 mile intrastate U.S. Route in the U.S. state of Florida. The western terminus is at Alt US 19, SR 595, and SR 687 in downtown St. Petersburg. The eastern terminus is at SR A1A in Daytona Beach. Most of US 92 is designated unsigned State Road 600.-Route description:US 92...
.
The Broadway Bridge reaches a height of 65 feet (19.9 m) and is 3,008 feet (917 m) in length. The bridge is more famous for its flair than its purpose. Mosaics of manatee
Manatee
Manatees are large, fully aquatic, mostly herbivorous marine mammals sometimes known as sea cows...
s, dolphin
Dolphin
Dolphins are marine mammals that are closely related to whales and porpoises. There are almost forty species of dolphin in 17 genera. They vary in size from and , up to and . They are found worldwide, mostly in the shallower seas of the continental shelves, and are carnivores, mostly eating...
s and other wildlife
Wildlife
Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants, animals and other organisms. Domesticating wild plant and animal species for human benefit has occurred many times all over the planet, and has a major impact on the environment, both positive and negative....
native to Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
give the bridge some tourist appeal.
The bridge was dedicated on July 20, 2001.
First bridge
Plans for the original Broadway Bridge were approved by the US Army Corps of Engineers on May 4, 1912. Michael Sholtz (father of future Governor David SholtzDavid Sholtz
David Sholtz was the 26th Governor of Florida.-Early life and education:Sholtz was born to Jewish parents in Brooklyn, New York, and after graduating from Yale, where he was a member of the Acacia Fraternity, in 1914 he went on and earned a law degree from Stetson University Law School...
), President of Central of Florida Railway Company, petitioned the Corps for the new bridge which he planned to use for his company's electric trolley system, that would connect the cities of Daytona, Daytona Beach, and Seabreeze
Seabreeze, Florida
Seabreeze is a beachside neighborhood in Daytona Beach, Florida, which existed as an independent city from May 24, 1901 until January 1, 1926, when it merged with Daytona and Daytona Beach to become one consolidated city....
(separate cities at the time, before consolidating in 1926) across the Halifax River.
The bridge was simply referred to as the concrete bridge for many years, until it started to be called the Broadway Bridge. It likely picked up the name because it connected to Broadway Avenue (now named International Speedway Blvd.) on the beach side.
Second bridge
By 1947, the Broadway Bridge was carrying traffic for a spur of Florida State Road A1AFlorida State Road A1A
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
and Florida State Road 600. The Florida State Road Department
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
determined a new four lane drawbridge was needed to replace the old structure. Tidewater Construction Corporation of Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk, Virginia
Norfolk is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. With a population of 242,803 as of the 2010 Census, it is Virginia's second-largest city behind neighboring Virginia Beach....
, was awarded the contract to construct the bridge, and started work on February 6, 1947. The overall length was 1777 feet with a channel span of 104 feet, allowing 90 foot clearance with the double leaf bascule (drawbridge) open.
The second Broadway Bridge over the Halifax River was officially opened on November 8, 1948, and dedicated in honor of Robert T. Carleton, Road Department member of the Fifth District and Elmer Blank, Volusia County Commissioner. Although the name "Carleton-Blank Bridge" appeared on state maps, the local community continued to refer to the structure as the Broadway Bridge.
