The Rusty Thorn in our Iconic Skyline

[marty904]

Since it hasn't been discussed on here since 2010 (from my quick search), I thought I would raise the topic of the "historic" eyesore that is the FEC bridge.

I'm fairly new to Jax so I don't know the history of administrations and if the bridge has been a part of their concerns/platforms at all but I just can't understand why the COJ and its citizens have allowed this eyesore to go so long, in such bad shape. Is it not a "big deal" to most Jacksonvillians? TO have such an iconic downtown skyline and most our other bridges are kept up pretty well and the fact that we put focus on our downtown bridges by dressing them with blue lights, why has it become okay to have the rusted monstrosity go unchallenged for so long?

Does anyone know why it has not been maintained better? It just seems very odd to me that it has been left to "rot" especially since it actually IS still in operation.

Again, being new to Jax, I (like the person in the 2010 post) thought it was an abandoned, non-operational relic that for some reason couldn't be removed. It was several months of living here (downtown) before I even realized that it is still an active bridge.

I am really interested to hear everyone's opinion of this and I expect that a couple of the "reg's" will provide some good history of how and why it came to be in such bad shape.

[Sandyfeets]

That "rusty thorn" you refer to is the FEC RR bridge. 
It's historic.  It was the very first bridge to cross the St. Johns.  The original was built in 1890, and that one in 1925.
It's not up to Jacksonville, the State of Florida or the Federal Government to replace it. 
It's up to the FEC (Florida East Coast RR.  It's their bridge.   
Granted it's rusty.  It's iron, it's supposed to look that way.   It's an industrial bridge, not a traffic or pedestrian.
It's not in bad shape, or the freight trains wouldn't pass over multiple times per day.   
They don't make them like they used to.   
I like it.   It reminds me of the past (the oldest span across the river) looking to the future, the Acosta bridge (it's direct neighbor) looking to the future.   
Not all history is to be erased and replaced.   Jacksonville did too much of that in the 50's and 60's and muddled our downtown history.   

[thelakelander]

I actually like it but I'm a guy who has an acquired taste for "urban grit".  Nevertheless, I believe there are plans to revamp this bridge at some point in the future.

[acme54321]

What they said.  That bridge literally opened Florida up to the world. 

Sandy, the only part replaced in 1925 was the lifting span.  It was originally a swing span.  The rest of the bridge is from 1890.

[thelakelander]

From 2013:

The Bridges of Downtown Jacksonville

Full article: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-may-the-bridges-of-downtown-jacksonville

1. Florida East Coast Strauss Trunnion Bascule Bridge

This double track railroad structure is the oldest remaining bridge crossing the mighty St. Johns.  It was originally constructed by oil magnate Henry M. Flagler, to provide better access to South Florida and served as the final chapter of Jacksonville's decline as a major tourist center. This 1925 bascule bridge replaced the original swing-span bridge that opened on January 5, 1890.

[marty904]

That "rusty thorn" you refer to is the FEC RR bridge. 
It's historic.  It was the very first bridge to cross the St. Johns.  The original was built in 1890, and that one in 1925.
It's not up to Jacksonville, the State of Florida or the Federal Government to replace it. 
It's up to the FEC (Florida East Coast RR.  It's their bridge.   
Granted it's rusty.  It's iron, it's supposed to look that way.   It's an industrial bridge, not a traffic or pedestrian.
It's not in bad shape, or the freight trains wouldn't pass over multiple times per day.   
They don't make them like they used to.   
I like it.   It reminds me of the past (the oldest span across the river) looking to the future, the Acosta bridge (it's direct neighbor) looking to the future.   
Not all history is to be erased and replaced.   Jacksonville did too much of that in the 50's and 60's and muddled our downtown history.   

I understand it is the FEC bridge. I mentioned that... I also mentioned that it is historic. And as far as it being in bad shape, it can be usable while also in "bad shape". I think most people agree that rust is equated to "metal rot" so if it continues to rust without treatment, at some point it will rot away and become unusable.

And I too, love the look of a spectacular iron bridge, with all the rivets and that industrial look but when it is neglected and is let to "rust to death", that is not a pretty sight.  There are tons of historic iron bridges around the country that are old and still in operation, but are maintained to keep the rust from being the only thing you can see.  I am just curious why the bridge has been let to rust so badly and not been maintained better.

And also for the record, I never suggested anything about erasing or removing the bridge, only inquiring why it has been neglected so badly.

[marty904]

Don't get me wrong, I too really like the bridge and it's engineering and the look of the bridge's "bones". I am solely referring to how badly rusted it has become.

Because it is cool looking and historic and has that nostalgic quality to it, the fact that it has been left to rust to death kind of says it's not important.  It also kind of sends a message to the thousands of people that pass through on the interstates think that it is just an old bridge that we don't care about and are letting sit and rot.

[thelakelander]

1987

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/15960

1940

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/31435

Photo with no date but taken in the early 20th century

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/7727

Photo taken between 1921 and 1925

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/138178


Bridge being constructed during the 1880s

State Archives of Florida, Florida Memory, http://floridamemory.com/items/show/34715

[marty904]

Thanks for all the pics lake, I knew you would have some great stuff for this post!

[thelakelander]

Because it is cool looking and historic and has that nostalgic quality to it, the fact that it has been left to rust to death kind of says it's not important.  It also kind of sends a message to the thousands of people that pass through on the interstates think that it is just an old bridge that we don't care about and are letting sit and rot.

Someone asked the FTU this question in 2010. Here was their response:

Dear Call Box: Recently I was visiting a patient at Baptist Medical Center Downtown when I looked out the window and noticed an old, rusty, broken down drawbridge that is no longer in use. A large section of the bridge remains raised. It is such an eyesore. To me it represents poor city planning and poverty. If there is no historical value, why hasn't it been removed? - B.S., Orange Park

Dear B.S.: Guess you don't get to downtown Jacksonville very often or that you didn't have to cross railroad tracks to get to the hospital. That is the Florida East Coast Railway bridge that carries between 16 to 20 freight trains a day across the river. And yes, you could say it is somewhat historic. The first FEC bridge at that location opened Jan. 5, 1890, and was replaced by the present bridge in 1925, so it is the oldest bridge across the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville. It is operated 24 hours a day by three bridge tenders, each working 8-hour shifts. They keep it mostly in the open position to allow river traffic to pass beneath. The FEC budgets about $500,000 annually to maintain the bridge. CSX and Norfolk Southern are other railroads that use the bridge.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/402032/jessie-lynne-kerr/2010-10-21/florida-east-coast-bridge-isnt-abandoned

[thelakelander]

Btw, every time I see images of the old Acosta Bridge, I wish it would have been kept and converted into a pedestrian, bike, and transit bridge....

[Keith-N-Jax]

Can't people still walk and bike across the bridge now? I know I've seen people jogging across I think.

[thelakelander]

Yes, but they aren't idea for pedestrian and bike movement.  Slopes are too steep, ped and bike directional movement are an afterthought, and there are no bike facilities that separate cyclist from limited access high speed auto traffic.

[simms3]

I love the bridge!  I still wish we have the old Acosta!

[finehoe]

Btw, every time I see images of the old Acosta Bridge, I wish it would have been kept and converted into a pedestrian, bike, and transit bridge....

Hear, hear. I miss the old Acosta Bridge.  It would've been wonderful to have saved it.