MELBOURNE BEACH — The structurally deficient Sebastian Inlet Bridge will undergo a $101.9 million replacement beginning Monday, June 1. The Florida Department of Transportation projects it will take six years to complete.
The existing 1,548-foot, two-lane span bridge, completed in 1964 and reconditioned twice since, was deemed in poor condition by the state in 2018, necessitating full replacement due to prohibitive maintenance costs, according to Senior Project Engineer Bill Stuckey.
While the crossing will stay operational except during emergencies, motorists should anticipate periodic lane closures managed by flag operators, primarily weekdays, similar to longstanding disruptions on the 17th Street bridge. Construction will commence on the south side east of the existing structure, with site preparation including vegetation clearing and trestle installation to facilitate waterway access.
Traffic Impacts
Single-lane closures permitted daily, Monday through Thursday, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, and on Friday from 7:00 am to 1:00 pm. During these times, flaggers will maintain traffic on the roadway and access to the North Parking Lot.
Marine traffic will be maintained, with advanced notice provided for temporary restrictions.
Access to the South Parking Lot east of the bridge, and from the South Parking Lot to the south jetty, will be closed during construction.
For additional information about lane closures and detours, visit the weekly traffic report distributed by FDOT, available here.
Fishing on North & South Jetties
Jetty fishing access at Sebastian Inlet will remain largely open during bridge construction, even as some parking areas will close, a district commissioner said.
Sebastian Inlet District Commissioner John Campbell said the Florida Department of Transportation has told the district that access to the south parking lot east of the bridge — within the FDOT right of way — will be shut down during the project. The south jetty itself will stay open to the public.
“We understand from FDOT that SISP access to the south parking lot east of the bridge, within the FDOT ROW, will be closed during construction. However, the south jetty will remain open to the public,” Campbell told Sebastian Daily.
FDOT does not anticipate interrupting access to the north jetty pier, Campbell said. although the area east of the bridge project will be impacted.
“We understand how important access to the jetty’s are to so many and we will do everything possible to mitigate issues and strive for maximum access,” Campbell said.
New Bridge
The new bridge will be 1,543 feet, 9 inches, and feature an enhanced vertical clearance of 51 feet at its apex, compared to the current 39 feet, along with 8-foot shoulders on each travel lane and 12-foot shared-use paths on both sides for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Concrete barriers and aluminum railings will delineate the pathways, with three semi-circular observation alcoves on each side offering scenic views of the inlet and the Atlantic Ocean.
Two pedestrian-only observation decks will extend beneath the span — 232 feet from the north and 174 feet from the south — permitting fishing. Sebastian Inlet State Park will stay open, though select parking and facilities will be temporarily converted for staging. Marine traffic will generally proceed uninterrupted, subject to brief safety-related restrictions.
The project interfaces with concurrent regional endeavors, including the widening of State Road 510 and the resurfacing of U.S. 1 segments, prompting some local concern about compounded traffic impacts. Completion is anticipated in spring 2032, after which the existing structure will be demolished, yielding 3,500 tons of rubble to be incorporated into the Orchid Island Reef complex.