FL: Titusville, NASA Causeway Bridge, intracoastal mile 885.0, construction-UPDATE
- Date Reported: Aug 1, 2023
- Reporter: Ted Stehle
- Source: CG 7th District LNM 0730/23
- Description:
6/14/2023 UPDATE:
Orion Marine Construction, Inc. will be continuing the removal of the legacy NASA Causeway (John F. Kennedy Space Center) Bridge across the AICW (Indian River), mile 885.0, at Titusville through November 12, 2025. Demolition and Construction activities will be performed from several crane barges and deck barges within the vicinity of the bridge. Normal Operations are anticipated 10 hours per day, 6 days per week. Night work may be required.
The construction vessels on the project will monitor channels 13, 16 and Working Channel 1. Mariners are urged to use extreme caution in the area, transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake, and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. For further information contact: Travis Flowers at (813) 393-8184, or Grant Garner at (407)-865-3576.
5/23/2023 UPDATE:
Orion Marine and NASA anticipate the opening of the newly constructed NASA Causeway fixed bridge to be completed and vehicle traffic routed onto it beginning June 9, 2023. Once vehicular traffic is routed to the new bridge, the removal of the existing bascule structure will commence. The removal of each bascule leaf will require a partial to complete blockage of the channel for up to four hours duration each occurrence. Outside of these four-hour periods, the bridge will be locked in the open position and allow for vessels to transit the channel and pass through the span. There will be other periods during the scope of the operation when the channel may be partially obstructed up to 50 feet by a barge and an advance notice of 2 hours would be needed to fully clear the channel. At all times, vessels which can pass safely would be able to do so.
3/21/2023 UPDATE:
NASA is authorized to temporarily deviate from drawbridge operation regulation 33 CFR 117.261(l) that governs John F. Kennedy Space Center (NASA Causeway) Bridge across the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway, mile 885.0, at Addison Point, Florida.
Under this temporary deviation, the John F. Kennedy Space Center (NASA Causeway) Bridge is allowed to extend evening curfew hours and remain closed to navigation from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, beginning March 21, 2023 until June 30, 2023.12/14/2021:
Orion Marine Construction, Inc. will be conducting the removal and replacement of the NASA Causeway (John F. Kennedy Space Center) Bridge across the AICW (Indian River), mile 885.0, at Titusville, Florida beginning December 12th, 2021 through November 12, 2025.
Demolition and Construction activities will be performed from several crane barges and deck barges within the vicinity of the bridge. All barges will be serviced by push-boats. Normal Operations are anticipated 10 hours per day, 6 days per week. Night work may be required to facilitate Construction (concrete pour) activities, Channel may be blocked at times to facilitate construction.
The vessels on the project will monitor channels 13, 16 and Working Channel 1. Mariners are urged to use extreme caution in the area, transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake, and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made. For further information contact: Ricardo Villet at (305) 833-6828, or Cory Donoghue (813) 362-3630. For waterways related questions, contact Coast Guard Sector Jacksonville Waterways Management Division at (904) 714-7631 or via email at [email protected] - Lat / Lon: N 28° 31.734' / W 080° 45.943'
4 Boater Comments
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Comment by: Kristen Donahue, TOSMO, on Jan 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 55'
Draft: 5.0'Lots of construction here as the bridge is being taken down. Hail the bridge and they'll let you know where you can pass through.
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Comment by: Ted Stehle, Do It Now, on Dec 2, 2023
Vessel Type: Power
LOA: 32'
Draft: 2.5'Crews are in the process of removing the old bridge. Yesterday (Dec 1, 2023) they had completely blocked the channel under the highest part of the new bridge with barges working on demolition. A small tug worked as a pilot boat to guide us around. Make contact with the crew on Channel 16 (if they don't call you first) and follow their instructions. I'm not sure how this might affect sailboats with tall masts.
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Comment by: Jason Spitz on Oct 28, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'The new Dr. Sally Ride Memorial Bridge is open and has vertical clearance of 65'+. The old bridge continues to be disassembled and demolished with multiple cranes and workers onsite but not in the channel. The channel is currently fully open with no obstructions to navigation. Here is the announcement of the newly named bridge https://titusville.org/.../new-nasa-causeway-named-for-dr...
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Comment by: Paul Hoffman, Changes in L'Attitudes, on Dec 4, 2022
LOA: 41'
Draft: 3.8'Work on NASA Causeway Bridge (mm 885) replacement will affect navigation. 10DEC - 15 JAN
*** NEW FIXED HEIGHT CLEARANCE (65ft) AFTER ~ 27 DEC***
Source: USCG District 7 LNM 48/22
= = = = =
Periodically from December 10, 2022, until January 15, 2023, the contractor will be working in the navigable channel directly south of the existing bascule bridges in support of the bridge replacement project.
During this time, the channel will be partially to fully obstructed by spud barges with cranes which will be installing a fender system and precast girders. Approximately 30 feet of horizontal clearance will be available to mariners during the installation of the fender piles. During the installation of the precast girders, the channel may be obstructed up to 8 hours each day.
During all operations that impact the navigation channel, Orion will monitor marine radio channels and have resources available to move spud barges from the channel to remove navigation restrictions which may take 30 minutes to 1 hour.
On or around December 27, 2022, the contractor will be placing a beam across the AICW, restricting the vertical navigational clearance to 65 feet fixed. This will be the fixed vertical clearance and will be the charted clearance for the new high-level fixed bridge.
The construction vessels on the project will monitor channels 13, 16 and Working Channel 1. Mariners are urged to use extreme caution in the area, transit at their slowest safe speed to minimize wake, and proceed with caution after passing arrangements have been made.
For further information contact: Travis Flowers at (813) 393-8184, or Cory Donoghue (813) 362-3630.View location on the Waterway Guide Explorer