St. Lucie River Bridge

The U.S. Coast Guard has approved Brightline’s request to temporarily close a portion of the St. Lucie River navigation channel in Stuart, Fla., to allow for work to proceed to rehabilitate the bascule St. Lucie River Rail Bridge. The bridge is one of the final pieces of infrastructure needed for Brightline to expand its services north to Orlando.

“The St. Lucie River bridge represents one of the final construction projects along our Orlando extension,” said Michael Cegelis, executive vice president, rail infrastructure and development for Brightline. “This work is necessary to assure the bascule span can open reliably for marine traffic and close for freight and high-speed passenger rail. The new mechanical and electrical systems will greatly reduce the risk of unplanned closures that would impact all three user groups.”

The rehabilitation will begin with nighttime closures in April and include a subsequent 21-day navigation channel closure, with the drawbridge in the down position starting May 1 to improve the bridge’s operating reliability. During the 21-day closure, Brightline crews will work around the clock, 24/7, to complete the work. The bridge rehabilitation project, led by contractor Scott Bridge Company, is expected to be complete by summer of 2023.
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A group of Martin County marine business leaders filed a lawsuit in federal court Friday afternoon demanding changes in the regulation schedule planned for the railroad bridge over the St. Lucie River in Stuart.

The lawsuit, filed by Cohen and Seglias Law Firm in Philadelphia, is suing the Florida East Coast Railway, the Coast Guard and the Army Corps of Engineers on behalf of 13 plaintiffs.

More plaintiffs are expected to and encouraged to join the lawsuit as sales and property values decline, said Joe Walsh, owner of Indiantown Marine Center, one of the suit's plaintiffs.

Marine business leaders fear the Coast Guard will grant Brightline's request calling for the railroad drawbridge to be in the down position for up to 45 minutes every hour. That would allow boat traffic just 15 minutes per hour to travel through the bridge channel.

Brightline told the Coast Guard it needs the closure to allow for the passage of up to 32 passenger trains, added to as many as 24 freight trains per day. The length and frequency of closures could cost marine interests in Martin and St. Lucie counties millions of dollars in lost revenue each year, the lawsuit says.

Brightline finished work on the St. Lucie railroad bridge on May 21.

From April 16 to April 29, the bridge was in the up position and closed to freight traffic as part of the rehabilitation project.

Then May 1 through May 21, the St. Lucie County bridge was locked to be in the down position for 21 days affecting boats.