Jacksonville bridge delayed four hours after crane hit
State engineers found only minor damage to a beam after a barge-mounted crane hit the Hart Bridge late Wednesday.
By Lina Lewis ·
Drivers in Jacksonville faced a four-hour delay on the Hart Bridge late Wednesday after a crane struck the structure. The Florida Department of Transportation reported that the impact occurred between 7:15 and 7:30 p.m. local time. The bridge reopened shortly after 11 p.m. with no major structural failures.
The Hart Bridge is a four-lane steel structure standing 141 feet tall. It connects the downtown area, including EverBank Stadium, to the city's Southside. A tall crane positioned on a barge collided with the superstructure on the eastern side of the span. State crews identified a dent in a beam beneath the center of the bridge.
Hampton Ray, a spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation, said the damage is currently considered cosmetic. Inspectors used a specialized crane to reach the underside of the bridge from the road above. They deployed to check for cracks or fissures in the steel. Ray stated, 'Basically, it’s just cosmetic at this juncture.' The assessment team arrived within 20 minutes of the incident.
The U.S. Coast Guard inspected the barge after the strike and allowed it to continue its voyage. Ray noted that the company operating the crane does not appear to be local. No further details about the barge owner were available at the time of the report.
The Hart Bridge opened in 1967 and has avoided direct vessel strikes in the past. However, other spans crossing the St. Johns River have suffered damage from water traffic. In September 2013, a towed U.S. Navy vessel hit the Mathews Bridge, causing $4 million in damage and closing the road for one month. The Mathews Bridge is a 146-foot-high steel cantilever structure linking downtown and the Arlington neighborhood.
The Main Street bridge also faced recent impacts. A ship struck the vertical lift roadway on August 19, 2025, damaging multiple components. That force kept the bridge in the down position for months until repairs were completed. A river cruise ship hit the same span in November 2016, which also required a closure lasting several months.
