Main Street Bridge (Jacksonville) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Main Street Bridge |
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Viewed from the south bank
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| Coordinates | 30°19′22″N 81°39′31″W / 30.3228°N 81.6586°W |
| Carries | four general purpose lanes of   US 1 / US 90 and two sidewalks |
| Crosses | St. Johns River |
| Locale | Jacksonville, Florida |
| Official name | John T. Alsop Jr. Bridge |
| Maintained by | Florida Department of Transportation |
| ID number | 720022 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | steel vertical lift bridge |
| Total length | 1,680 feet (510 m) |
| Width | 58 feet (18 m) |
| Longest span | 365 feet (111 m) |
| Clearance above | 16.0 feet (4.9 m) |
| Clearance below | 35 feet (11 m) closed 135 feet (41 m) open |
| History | |
| Opened | July 1941 |
The Main Street Bridge is a famous bridge in Jacksonville, Florida. Its official name is the John T. Alsop Jr. Bridge. This bridge crosses the St. Johns River, which is a major river in Florida.
It was the second bridge ever built across the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. The bridge has four lanes for cars and trucks. It is part of important roads like US 1 and US 90.
The Main Street Bridge is a special kind of bridge called a vertical lift bridge. This means a part of it can move up and down! It opened in July 1941 and cost about $1.5 million to build. In 1957, it was named after a former mayor, John T. Alsop Jr.. But most people still call it the Main Street Bridge. It's a well-known part of the Downtown Jacksonville skyline.
Building the Main Street Bridge
Construction on the Main Street Bridge started in 1938. The Mount Vernon Bridge Company built it. The project cost about $1.5 million.
Before building began, the U.S. War Department approved the plans in 1936. This was before World War II started. The bridge took three years to finish. It had a special opening ceremony on July 17, 1941.
The bridge was designed to lift up. This allows tall ships to pass underneath it. In 1957, the bridge was officially named the John T. Alsop Jr. Bridge. This honored John T. Alsop, who was the mayor of Jacksonville.
The Main Street Bridge helps connect different parts of Jacksonville. It carries traffic to and from areas like San Marco, Southbank, and Downtown Jacksonville. It also connects to Interstate 95. In 2014, the bridge got an $11 million upgrade. Workers improved metal barriers and fixed sidewalks.
A Special Movable Bridge
Many bridges in the Jacksonville area have been rebuilt. Most new bridges are "fixed spans." This means they do not move.
The Main Street Bridge is now the only movable bridge for cars in Jacksonville. It is the only one that can lift up to let boats pass. When it first opened, four of the eight vehicle crossings in the area could move. These included the Main Street Bridge, Shands, Fuller Warren, and Acosta. Now, only the Main Street Bridge still moves.
The bridge opens at half past the hour to let ships pass.
Gallery
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A 1992 map showing the Main Street Bridge (the one on the east)
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Looking south from downtown towards the Main Street Bridge
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Looking south through the metal frame of the Main Street Bridge
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The bridge with its lift span raised
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The bridge lit up at night, seen from a hotel. The Acosta Bridge is in the background.
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A view from the sidewalk on the south side
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