Brightline begins behind-the-scenes work to replace aging St. Lucie River bridge in Stuart

STUART — Brightline has begun work on the brand new $218 million railroad bridge over the St. Lucie River. You simply cannot see it but.

Behind-the-scenes design work already is underway, Stuart and Martin County leaders and representatives of the native marine business discovered final month from Brightline officers in a gathering at Metropolis Corridor. All however $31.5 million of the associated fee has been secured to replace the 91-year previous drawbridge, the one single-track stretch of the railroad’s 235-mile hall between Orlando and Miami.

Florida East Coast Railway — the freight line that owns most of Brightline’s hall — can be in search of a $31.5 million federal grant to shut the funding hole, officers mentioned.

Fifteen % of the design is finished, railroad officers mentioned.

Vertical clearance nonetheless a difficulty

Passage of boats beneath the bridge stays some extent of stress between the railroad and the maritime neighborhood. The bridge design introduced on the assembly supplies a vertical clearance of 17 toes 9 inches, a rise from greater than the 16-foot clearance beforehand shared, though it stays topic to change, Stuart Metropolis Supervisor Michael Mortell mentioned through the assembly.

Brightline has “fairly good confidence” that the 17-foot-9 clearance can be satisfactory for boaters, mentioned Scott Gammon, senior vp of development for Brightline.

The present bridge has a vertical clearance of 6 toes 6 inches, in accordance to Brightline’s presentation.

Whereas the Marine Industries Affiliation of the Treasure Coast, which advocates for the area’s marine business, helps the present design, in accordance to President Tom Whittington, it leaves some in the business wishing for just a little extra.

Dan Romence, president of Indiantown Marine Middle, mentioned he would really like a better vertical clearance for the brand new bridge when it is closed, and would favor a fixed-span bridge slightly than one other drawbridge. For instance, he mentioned, not one of the boats serviced by the Indiantown Marine Middle might get beneath a bridge with a 17-foot 9-inch clearance. That would negatively influence that sector of the marine business, Romence mentioned.

Brightline crosses the St. Lucie River railroad bridge throughout prepare testing in the world, Friday, July 21, 2023, in downtown Stuart.

Brightline didn’t reply to a request for touch upon the bridge peak. The corporate will handle design and development of the bridge.

Funding and timeline

The final $31.5 million wanted to construct the bridge could come from a Federal Railroad Administration Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Security Enhancements grant.

Stuart secured $130.5 million federal grant and Florida East Coast Railway has secured $25.5 million.

Extra: Brightline to construct new Treasure Coast station in downtown Stuart, metropolis officers say

Extra: $130 million grant is main increase to changing St. Lucie River railroad bridge in Stuart

Design of the bridge could take till the tip of 2025, Brightline officers mentioned. Development could start in the primary quarter of 2026 and take up to three years.

The intention is to full development sooner, Gammon mentioned. The one factor that would delay it getting approval required by the Nationwide Environmental Coverage Act, Mortell mentioned. That regulation focuses on defending the surroundings and contains addressing historic issues. The present bridge is a historic useful resource.

Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter protecting Martin County. He could be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com or at 720-288-6882.

This text initially appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Railroad bridge substitute challenge begins in Stuart, Brightline says