imported>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: /* top */ add {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

2025-04-17T01:37:43Z

top: add {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}

New page

{{short description|Bridge in Florida, United States of America}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox bridge
|bridge_name= 11th Avenue Swing Bridge
|image= Snow read swing bridge.jpg
|image_size=300px
|caption=
|official_name= Snow-Reed Swing Bridge
|carries= 2 lanes, pedestrians, and bicycles
|crosses= [[New River (Broward County, Florida)|New River]]
|locale= [[Fort Lauderdale]], [[Florida]]
|maint= City of Fort Lauderdale
|design= [[Truss bridge|truss]] [[swing bridge]]
|mainspan=
|width=
|height=
|clearance=
|below= {{convert|4|ft|m|0}} at [[Tide|mean low water]]
|traffic=
|open= 1925
|closed=
|toll=
|coordinates = {{coord|26.11581|-80.15596|region:US-FL|display=inline,title}}
}}
The '''Snow-Reed Swing Bridge''' is one of the oldest bridges in the Fort Lauderdale area, and one of the few remaining [[swing bridges]] in Florida.<ref name="nolin">{{Cite news |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/15348DC0E8EDA940 |title=Swing bridge a link to neighborhoods, past |last=Nolin |first=Robert |date=3 February 2015 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |access-date=25 November 2018 |department=News |page=2A |url-access=subscription |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> Located between the 300 and 500 block of Southwest 11th (Palm) Avenue in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, the bridge connects the neighborhoods of Sailboat Bend and Riverside Park. In 1989 it was officially renamed and designated a historic landmark .

== Before ==
A wood bridge supported by a single piling used to cross at SW 9th Avenue.<ref name="stout">{{cite news|title=The Beachcomber: Tailhold on Big Wildcat|last=Stout|first=Wesley|date=December 15, 1954|work=Fort Lauderdale Daily News}}</ref> In 1916, the old Andrews Avenue swing bridge was moved to cross at 11th Avenue. Locals along the North Fork requested the bridge.<ref name="hathaway">{{cite journal|last=Hathaway|first=Robert|title=The Original Palm Avenue Swing Bridge|journal=Broward Legacy|publisher=Broward Historical Commission|volume=28|issue=1 |url= http://journals.fcla.edu/browardlegacy/article/view/76774/74346 |access-date= 25 November 2018 |date= 2008 |via= [[Florida Atlantic University]]}}</ref> This was replaced in 1924 by a new swing bridge, which is still in place.

== History ==
The bridge was constructed from 1924 to 1925.<ref name= "nolin"/> The process of ordering and building the bridge spanned the terms of two different Fort Lauderdale mayors, E.G. Snow and Will J. Reed.<ref name="woolfe" /> Known simply as the old Southwest 11th Avenue bridge it was renamed for these two mayors in 1989.<ref name="rename">{{Cite news |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0EB5D14BACB03287 |title=Officials rename bridge, boat ramp |last=LaMendola |first=Bob |date=7 May 1989 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |access-date=25 November 2018 |department=City Plus |edition=East Broward |pages=4 |url-access=subscription |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref>

There is a plaque mounted on the NW bridge abutment wall, which reads:

* City of Fort Lauderdale, Florida
* Officers 1924
* R.G. Snow, Mayor
* Councilmen: Frank Stranahan, Chairman
* Geo. Young, R.E. Dye, J.A. Warren
* Officers 1925
* Will J. Reed, Mayor
* ...
* Jasper Lawson, Clerk
* H.C. Davis, Engineer
* Erected 1924-25 by
* The Champion Bridge Company, Wilmington Ohio

The [[Champion Bridge Company]] was a well-known builder of truss bridges.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://bridgehunter.com/category/builder/champion-bridge-co/|access-date= 25 November 2018 | title=Champion Bridge Co.|website= Bridgehunter.com}}</ref> The bridge is a truss bridge with an approximately 100-foot span.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/16DBAEA1A677ABE8 |title=Swing bridge to close - again Fort Lauderdale |last=Roustak |first=Wayne K. |date=11 August 2018 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |access-date=25 November 2018 |department=Local |edition=Fort Lauderdale |page=1 |url-access=subscription |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> To open the bridge for marine vessels, an electric motor drives a pinion gear which engages a ring gear in the base of the bridge. If the electric motor is not working, the bridge can also be opened manually using a large wrench (approx. 8' DEEP socket with an 8' long handle).

The bridge was originally designed only to be operated manually, a gasoline motor was installed in 1930.<ref name="woolfe" /> The electric motor was installed in 1954 but was not operational during the 1955 mayoral campaign when incumbent Mal Carlisle took credit for electrifying the bridge. This blunder cost Carlisle the election.<ref name= "kirkham"/>

The Snow-Reed Swing Bridge was designated a Historical Landmark in 1989 by the Fort Lauderdale Historic Preservation Board.<ref name= "kirkham"/> In the 1990s because of cross river crime, some residents sought to remove the bridge.<ref name= "nolin"/> The proposal to close the bridge met substantial opposition from neighborhood residents and local preservationists.<ref name="kirkham">{{Cite news |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/107BDF2BA1A792B0 |title=Link to the past |last=Kirkham |first=Chris |date=16 January 2005 |work=[[Miami Herald]] |access-date=25 November 2018 |department=Broward & State |edition=Broward |page=3BR |url-access=subscription |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref><ref name="budget">{{Cite news |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/0EB4EE3E3B348A2A |title=Lauderdale commission raises property taxes - panel's recommendations for additional cuts of $2.9 million from city's budget rejected |last=LaMendola |first=Bob |date=28 September 1994 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |access-date=25 November 2018 |department=Local |edition=Final |page=1B |url-access=subscription |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref><ref name="woolfe">{{Cite news |url=https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1994-09-15-9409140562-story.html |title=Water calm but bridge is troubled |last=Woolfe |first=Tao |date=15 September 1994 |work=[[Sun-Sentinel]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181125080443/https://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/fl-xpm-1994-09-15-9409140562-story.html |archive-date=25 November 2018 |pages=1B}}</ref> It is the oldest bridge in the city of Fort Lauderdale and {{as of|2005|lc=yes}} was one of only ten swing bridges remaining in Florida.<ref name= "kirkham"/>

== Renovation ==
The bridge was closed for nearly a year for a major renovation and reopened on August 1, 2010.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWNB&docref=news/1322A42D4BE384A0 |title=Old bridge renewed |date=4 August 2010 |work=[[Miami Herald]] |access-date=25 November 2018 |department=Metro & State |page=3B |url-access=subscription |via=[[NewsBank]]}}</ref> Contractors replaced damaged structural steel, added new railings and grating, upgraded mechanical and electrical systems, and constructed a new [[bridge tender's house|tender control house]] (behind the historical one which was preserved).<ref name="waterfrontnews">{{Cite news |url=http://waterfront-news.com/html/nautical_history.htm |title=Rehab project continues on 75-year-old swing bridge |last=Jordan |first=Richard |date=April 2010 |work=Waterfront News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414135554/http://waterfront-news.com/html/nautical_history.htm |archive-date=14 April 2010 |url-status=dead |publisher=Ziegler Publishing}}</ref>

== Resources ==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{youTube|OuKXQJLP7gg}} showing the bridge turning (2014)

{{Bridges of Florida}}

[[Category:Buildings and structures in Fort Lauderdale, Florida]]
[[Category:Transportation buildings and structures in Broward County, Florida]]
[[Category:Road bridges in Florida]]
[[Category:Bridges completed in 1925]]
[[Category:Swing bridges in Florida]]
[[Category:1925 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Steel bridges in the United States]]

Snow-Reed Swing Bridge - Revision history

imported>Ser Amantio di Nicolao: /* top */ add {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}}