Draw Bridge Ahead - Prepare to Stop When Flashing!

01/01/08

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 Originally constructed in the 1920's as a low level two lane drawbridge, the Clearwater Memorial Causeway was reconstructed in 1963 as a high level drawbridge similar to the Madeira Beach Causeway and was liberated from the kingdom of the Draw Bridge Ahead warning sign in 2005 when the new high level Clearwater Memorial Causeway was opened.  Connecting Clearwater with Clearwater Beach, the Clearwater Memorial Causeway is a part of FL 60, a cross Florida highway beginning at the roundabout at Clearwater Beach and traversing the state across the Courtney Campbell Parkway and through Tampa, Brandon, Bartow, Lake Wales and the Florida Turnpike junction at Yeehaw Junction and ending in Vero Beach.

The first Clearwater Memorial Causeway bridge was a wooden bridge built around 1915.  At that time Pinellas County was just a young county only three years old after separation from Hillsborough County and Clearwater was just a sleepy little town, being selected as the county seat of Pinellas County to the disdain of St. Petersburg.  The wooden bridge lasted for several years into the 1920's when a two-lane reinforced concrete drawbridge was built.

The two-lane Clearwater Memorial Causeway served its needs very well carrying beach goers to Clearwater Beach (back then, you did not have these high rise hotels and condominiums that we know today).  Around 1960 growth within Clearwater Beach as well as Clearwater itself plus heavy traffic was justification for the Florida DOT to build a high level drawbridge similar to the Madeira Beach Causeway to replace the 1920's two-lane drawbridge.  When the high level drawbridge opened in 1963 the 1920's drawbridge was converted into a fishing pier.

Being an integral part of FL 60, the 1963 Clearwater Memorial Causeway drawbridge was built as a 4-lane drawbridge to allow for expansion of the highway to better serve Clearwater Beach.  Like its 1920's predecessor, the 1963 drawbridge served the needs of Clearwater, Clearwater Beach and the surrounding area well into the 21st Century.

However, rapid growth not only in Clearwater Beach and Clearwater as well as the construction of the condominium canyon in nearby Sand Key have taken its toll on heavy use of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway, not to mention the increasing number of visitors every year.  After plenty of debate as to whether to build another drawbridge or a high level fixed span bridge, it was decided that the Clearwater Memorial Causeway drawbridge would be replaced by a high level fixed span bridge.

Work began on the replacement bridge in 2001; however, a lot of controversy brewed during construction.  One of the most notable controversies was in 2004 when one of the piers of the new bridge cracked to the point that it was unsafe.  By coincidence, the contractor on the new Clearwater Memorial Causeway project - PCL Civil Constructors Inc. - ran into the same problem when a pier on the elevated lanes of the Selmon Crosstown Expressway in Tampa sank.  (PCL was the contractor on both projects).

With the piers in question replaced, work progressed to completion and the new bridge opened in 2005.  It makes one feel like that you are on an interstate highway rather than your typical bridge.  Going westbound you can see Clearwater Beach as well as the neighboring Sand Key Bridge and going eastbound you have a view of the skyline of downtown Clearwater.  The new Clearwater Memorial Causeway was well worth the wait.

The 1963 high level drawbridge used to put motorists on the mainland of FL 60 onto Cleveland Street, which is the main street of downtown Clearwater akin to Central Avenue in downtown St. Petersburg.  However, when the new high level fixed bridge opened in 2005 the routing for FL 60 changed:  Instead of using Cleveland Street, Court Street would be used as the new route for FL 60.

The Clearwater Memorial Causeway is a beautiful sight to see, day or night, walking or driving.  It's a much better improvement than the 1963 drawbridge.

Clearwater Memorial Causeway Photos

 

Bridge over the relief channel

This was taken in 2006 as I am heading east on the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. It is the first bridge you encounter when you leave Clearwater Beach and was built in 1962, one year before the high level drawbridge to the east in 1963. The bridge still exists today and it features a pedestrian underpass.

Approaching the high level fixed bridge

Taken from the pedestrian trail that follows the length of FL 60 on the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. This trail I believe will be integrated into Clearwater's east-west trail which will run from Clearwater Beach to Bayshore Blvd. in eastern Clearwater.

Use the appropriate lane

Pedestrians should keep to the right and bicyclists should keep to the left when crossing in the eastbound direction. The instructions are reversed when crossing westbound.

Looking south in Clearwater Harbor

Nice view of Clearwater Harbor looking south. To the right you can see parts of the condominium canyon of Sand Key.

The beginning of the bridge

The expansion joint in the foreground marks the actual start of the high level fixed span of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway bridge.

Closeup view of expansion joint

This is what makes the Clearwater Memorial Causeway bridge expand and contract depending on the weather and temperature conditions.

Ascending the bridge

Parts of downtown Clearwater come into view the moment you step on the bridge. This was taken looking east.

More condominiums?

Just when you thought condominium high rises were restricted to Sand Key and Clearwater Beach: You are wrong! Condominium high rises are everywhere! This is a high rise condominium in downtown Clearwater seen looking east from the bridge.

The mighty pillars

Here is a view of one of the many mighty pillars that support the high level fixed span of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. Doesn't it remind you of California's many freeways?

Another view of Clearwater Harbor

Taken as we ascend the summit of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway.

At the summit of the bridge

We are just about at the summit of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway where we go over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway channel. Notice the three lights in the foreground that hang from the bridge; these tell boaters where the center of the channel is especially at night. This was taken from one of the many pedestrian view points on the bridge.

A view of the condominium high rise at the summit

Here we see the condominium high rise in downtown Clearwater as we are at the summit of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. We are about 70 feet above the water here.

The exact center of the summit

The faint line going through the concrete median divider and the pedestrian divider on the other side marks the exact center of the summit of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. We are 70 feet above the water here.

View of downtown Clearwater from the summit

Once you cross the summit of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway headed east, more of downtown Clearwater comes into view.

View of the summit looking west

Here we are over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway channel at the summit of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway looking west. This view is looking back towards Clearwater Beach and was taken from one of the many pedestrian view points on the bridge.

Heading on down the hill

More of downtown Clearwater comes into view here. You can see Clearwater's City Hall in the foreground to the left and the Pinellas County Courthouse in the background to the right.

Sign of progress in downtown Clearwater

Construction of this office tower is underway as seen from the Clearwater Memorial Causeway.

More buildings come into view

We see more office and condominium high rises as we make our descent into downtown Clearwater.

Reduced Speed Ahead

Prepare to reduce your speed to 30 mph - you are about to come upon Chestnut Street which is the eastbound lanes of FL 60 through downtown Clearwater.

Speed Limit 30 mph

The reduced speed limit marks the end of the new high level fixed span Clearwater Memorial Causeway. A circular pedestrian ramp to the right (not shown) takes pedestrians to Cleveland Street and the downtown Clearwater business district.

Closeup of Speed Limit 30 mph

The Pinellas County Courthouse will be on your left as you head east on Chestnut Street. Here Chestnut Street forms the eastbound lanes of FL 60 while Court Street forms the westbound lanes of FL 60 as it passes through downtown Clearwater. Court Street merges into one road east of downtown Clearwater and eventually into Gulf To Bay Blvd. further east.

Expansion Joint Part 2

This expansion joint marks the eastern end of the high level fixed span of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway. Much better than the hum of a drawbridge's steel grid deck.

Under the Clearwater Memorial Causeway

This is where Court Street once stood when the 1963 drawbridge was here. Traffic on Court Street would back up for miles when the drawbridge had to be opened.

Another view of under the bridge

Here is the Clearwater Memorial Causeway as it curves towards the west and Clearwater Beach.

Looking east on Cleveland Street

Where I am standing is where the intersection of Cleveland Street and Court Street once stood. Today heading west on Cleveland Street will take you on a loop to eastbound Drew Street.

Remnant of the 1963 drawbridge

This railing wall still has the year the high level drawbridge was constructed, 1963.

Pilings from the 1963 drawbridge

These are the piling bents from the 1963 drawbridge that are still preserved.

Looking west from the 1963 drawbridge

This would be on the center of the road where the old drawbridge used to stand. There is already talk of a pedestrian promenade which would be built on this site.

The old and the new

The piers of the old 1963 drawbridge and the 2005 high level fixed bridge looking west.

The footer of the 1963 drawbridge

This is where the 1963 drawbridge started, as well as the intersection of Cleveland Street and Court/Drew Street.

The Clearwater Memorial Causeway at sunset

Nice view of the Clearwater Memorial Causeway gracefully arcing over Clearwater Harbor. The new bridge is a much better improvement than the old drawbridge.

South to Sand Key Bridge

Drawbridges Home

North to Dunedin Causeway

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This site was last updated 01/01/08