No Fishing on the Fishing Bridge

Newly posted No Fishing sign. Note the missing bridge railings in the background.

The Airport Road bridge, popularly called the "Fishing Bridge," was closed to fishing January 18. The concrete railings have been failing for years and are completely missing in some sections. The bridge has been used by fishermen displaced from the County Dock, which has been closed for over two years following storm damage.

One of several sections of railing completely missing.

Mr. Bruce Greeley, of the Levy County Road Department, told Cedar Key News that the Florida Department of Transportation must approve the design of replacement railings. He expects to try within a week to "get something started." The concrete railings that have not already fallen have exposed and rusted reinforcing bars. Similar conditions exist on the underside of the bridge. The bridge is scheduled for inspection in May 2007. As reported in August of 2006, the Florida State Bridge Inspector rated the bridge at 27 on a scale of 0 to 100 where 50 is a minimum passing grade.

Additional missing sections of railings and a sawhorse barricade. Note the exposed reinforcing rods.