Emergency repair work is occurring on the Mid-Bay Bridge in Okaloosa County. Photo credit: FDOTA Northwest Florida toll bridge has been closed for emergency repairs due to corrosion on some of its tendons, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Credit: Mid-Bay Bridge AuthorityThe 3.6-mile Mid-Bay Bridge between Niceville and Destin has been closed since January 8 as a “cautionary measure to minimize the stresses on the bridge” while it is being repaired, according to the FDOT.
FDOT says it has not set a timetable for when the bridge will reopen, which won’t occur until repairs are completed.
FDOT spokesman Ian Satter told nwfdailynews.com that inspectors found metal support tendons on the bridge that needed to be replaced during an inspection in October and had planned to close the bridge for repair work.
That work was delayed, however, because of Hurricane Michael recovery, Satter told nwfdailynews.com. Inspectors determined January 8 that the corrosion had progressed and decided to close the bridge for emergency repairs, nwfdailynews.com reports.
“We are very concerned with the safety of the bridge and are working as hard as we can to make the repairs,” FDOT said in a news release January 10.
“We are working day and night to repair, inspect, and prepare the Mid-Bay Bridge for safe travel as soon as possible,” Phillip Gainer, FDOT District 3 secretary, said in the release.
Photo credit: Mid-Bay Bridge Authority
