Lake Monroe Bridge
Posted by: 
moochie
N 28° 50.229 W 081° 19.442
17R E 468389 N 3189986
Once used to span the St. Johns River, this bridge is used as a fishing pier.
Waymark Code: WM2HC5
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 11/04/2007
Views: 61
The Lake Monroe Bridge was the first electrically operated swing bridge in Florida. In 1932-33, the state used federal assistance to build this bridge, which replaced a wooden toll bridge that was manually operated. The contruction of the bridge provided economic relief for an area hurt by the economic collapse of the depression era. The bridge was fabricated by Ingall's Iron Works of Birmingham, Alabama, the swing machinery manufactured by Earle Gear and Machine Company of Philadelplhia, Pennsylvania and it was erected by WW White Steel Construction Company of St Petersburg, Florida. Kreis Contracting Company of Knoxville Tennesee was the general contractor for the Florida Department of Transportation. The Florida Department of Transportation and Seminole County cooperated in preserving the swing span as a fishing pier when the new Benedict Bridge was completed in 1994. The Lake Monroe Bridge has historic impact on the communities of the area, but also is of historical value as an example of a branch of bridge engineering The Lake Monroe Bridge was 627 feet and included a 235 foot swing span. It carried the main route linking Daytona Beach and Tampa via Deland, Sanford, Orlando and Lakeland. It could pivot 360 degrees on its curved rack and two spur pinions. The Warren type through truss construction had a central panel section peaked to accomodate the drive machinery. The Warren-type truss is considered the most economical construction for continuous spans. It is characterized by diagonals that alternate in direction. The first diagonal beam starts at the base level and goes up to the top. The next diagonal starts at the top and goes down to the base level. The diagonals are in tension and compression in alternate panels. To meet the heavy stesses of the swing span operation, the bridge arms were heavily reinforced and had rivited connections at all stress points. The harbor for Lake Monroe Park in Volusia County was created by fill taken for the approaches to the Lake Monroe Bridge.
Original Use: Vehicle - Car / Truck
Construction: Steel
Condition: Good
See this website for more information: [Web Link]
Date Built: Not listed
Date Abandoned: Not listed
Bridge Status - Orphaned or Adopted.: Not listed
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