The Shands Bridge is temporarily closed in both directions after a barge hit the structure, the Florida Department of Transportation announced Wednesday morning.
The Shands Bridge connects U.S. 17 in Clay County to State Road 13 in St. Johns County along State Road 16 over the St. Johns River.
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FDOT says that bridge inspectors are on site to assess the structure, just to be on the safe side after the barge struck it.
The bridge will reopen as soon as the inspectors say it’s safe.
“We know this is going to be disruptive; this isn’t something we enjoy doing, causing a disruption,” said FDOT spokesperson Hampton Ray. “This is really about an abundance of caution, and it’s part of our standard operating procedure. When something unexpectedly touches our structure, we want to make sure that everything is where it’s supposed to be and how it’s supposed to be. We really appreciate motorists’ patience as we work to make sure the bridge is as safe as possible.”
For now, drivers are encouraged to find alternate routes.