Both northbound lanes of Jacksonville’s Main Street Bridge will be shut down to traffic until mid-October to repair damage after a tugboat hit the bridge almost a month ago, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
The boat hit the bridge about 2:30 a.m. Aug. 19 as it was moving away from the coastal effects of Hurricane Erin, the Coast Guard said.
FDOT crews did an immediate safety assessment before reopening the bridge to vehicles four hours later.
But the state now must repair electrical damage caused by the ship, which means drivers will have to use the Acosta or Hart bridges as alternate routes as crews repair it. Intermittent detours will be done in both directions on the bridge between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. daily for testing and more repairs.
The repair work will cost $2.1 million, FDOT said.
Baoters who need to get through the area will have to contact the Main Street Bridge tender operator for weekly lift schedules.
