BRIGHTLINE PASSENGER TRAIN CLOSING STUART RAILROAD BRIDGE FOR 21 DAYS

By Ed Killer for CAM

The Marine Industries Association of the Treasure Coast notified its member businesses and the boating community Jan. 25 about Brightline passenger train company’s planned closure of the railroad bridge across the St. Lucie River in Stuart.

The bridge will be closed for 21 days beginning May 1, according to a draft plan sent by Brightline to MIATC and the U.S. Coast Guard. Here is what the plan says:

Full closure of bridge to all boat traffic

• 6 a.m. May 1 until 6 a.m. May 22

Nighttime closure of bridge to all boat traffic

• 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

April 16 through April 28

• 8 p.m. to 6 a.m.

May 22 through May 28

According to Brightline’s draft plan, the bridge closing to all boat traffic is necessary because the repairs needed are different than repairs completed in 2022 to the Loxahatchee River bridge.

“Preparation work will be performed during nighttime hours (2000 to 0600 daily). Work includes drilling new rack attachment holes in the existing counterweight. Bridge must be in the down position to drill the holes. Holes must be drilled in advance of the navigation outage in order to limit duration to 21 days.

Navigation outage work will be performed 24 hours per day 7 days per week. Work includes supporting the bascule leaf on falsework, machining all four trunions in place, installation of new trunnion towers and bearings, removal and replacement of all mechanical drive machinery, and installation of a new control system. The machining of the trunions and replacement of the mechanical drive machinery render the bridge inoperable, so once work begins the bridge must remain in the down position until completion.

Tuning work will be performed during nighttime hours (2000‐0600 daily), as may be required. Tuning work includes making final adjustments to the span, machinery, and control system and performing final balance of the bascule leaf.”