Inspectors from the Florida Department of Transportation look at the damage caused when a crane hit the Hart Bridge on Wednesday, Nov. 5th, 2026. | FDOT
Published on November 5, 2026 at 3:43 pm
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The Hart Bridge was shut late Wednesday after a tall crane atop a barge slammed into its superstructure, but damage was limited, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
State crews found minor damage to a beam under the center part of the bridge, and the four-lane green bridge was reopened about four hours after the impact.
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The incident occurred between 7:15 and 7:30 p.m. as the crane was being maneuvered on a barge on the eastern side of the 141-foot-tall steel girder bridge, which connects Downtown and the Southside.
A crane used to assess the damage was close enough to get there within 20 minutes, said FDOT spokesperson Hampton Ray. The special crane deployed inspectors under the bridge from the road above.
“We spent a significant amount of time looking at the actual dent in the bridge,” Ray said. “We used a lot of methods to make sure there were no cracks or fissures. Basically it’s just cosmetic at this juncture.”
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Information about the crane or the barge’s owner was not available Thursday, but the company does not appear to be local, Ray said. The U.S. Coast Guard let the barge continue its voyage after its initial inspection, he said.
Ships have occasionally hit some of Jacksonville’s other bridges over the St. Johns River, but the Hart Bridge, opened in 1967, has been spared, records show.
- In September 2013, a U.S. Navy vessel ship hit the nearby Mathews Bridge while being towed and dislodged a beam, causing $4 million in damage. The bridge was closed for a month.
- A ship hit the Main Street bridge on Aug. 19, 2025, damaging multiple components and forcing the bridge to remain in the down position until repairs were done months later.
- In November 2016, a river cruise ship hit the Main Street bridge, closing it for months.
