Bennett Causeway Bridges

Comment by: M. Frick, Allure, on Apr 5, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 48'
Draft: 5.9'

Our airdraft is 64.5, and we cleared northbound with clearance showing about 65'. Southbound board stopped at 63' mark but you can estimate from that point.

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Comment by: Karen Wyscarver on Mar 23, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 38'
Draft: 3.5'

Passed under bridge heading northbound. Arrived 90 minutes before low tide. Sign showed 64.5. Our mast is 63.5. We cleared. Noticed the sign on the southbound was missing.

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Comment by: Teresa Scott on Feb 15, 2024
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 5.5'

Passed under bridge heading southbound. Board on north bridge was missing anything past 62 but south bridge read over 64. Approximately one hour after high tide.

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Comment by: Bret Butler, Lucy 2, on Feb 9, 2023
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

Passed under south bound. But seemed that southern span was slightly lower than northern by about 6". Reader board read 65, we have a 63'-8" air draft. Made it under both, but VHF antenna rubbed on the southern span.

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Comment by: David Swann, Little Mermaid, on Oct 8, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 42'
Draft: 5.0'

Passed under the double-span Bennett Causeway Bridge northbound on May 13, 2022. The tideboard on the south span was 64 feet. We need 63.5 feet clearance. There was a cloth and mesh wire encasement across the entire span over the water around some underside construction however it did not appear to have lowered the air draft and no warning of lower air draft was present. Our wind machine, Windex, and anchor light were pulled off with some going into the water and other parts falling on the deck. Our lightening diffuser, anchor and VHF antennae were bent. After we contacted the FDOT, the contractor posted a notice warning mariners of the Contruction and indicating the completion would be in the spring 2023. We will avoid this bridge until it is completed.

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Comment by: Eric Ramsey, SunBums, on Jun 23, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 39'
Draft: 4.0'

Clearance board was reading 64 plus. We have 61' mast and 1' antenna. We cleared the South side just fine. Our antenna hit on the north side. Looks like construction on the north side with cloth and wire mesh.

• WG Editor Comment:
  

  Note that there is a nav alert posted regarding bridge work.

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Comment by: Galli Family, Sun Goddess, on Jun 8, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 50'
Draft: 5.0'

Just passed through. North span still has tarps and cages across the entire span. (Not just half). We passed at 64' on the board and cleared fine. With antenna, we are 61'5". Good idea to have someone at bow with binoculars because there were places where wire cage was hanging down. Would've been a problem for us.

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Comment by: Sue on May 5, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 49'
Draft: 6.0'

Went under this bridge yesterday, May 4, 2022. The underside of the north span is wrapped in cloth, which is enclosed in a wire cage. We are on a Beneteau 49 and normally clear this bridge (although touching the VHF antenna) with the tide board showing 64 and four fender boards showing. Yesterday, because of the wire cage, it snagged both our VHF antenna and our Windex and brought them crashing down to the deck. Tried to find info on line, but none is available.

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Comment by: Bret Butler, Lucy 2, on Mar 23, 2022
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 43'
Draft: 4.0'

Reader board read 64', our 63'-8" mast and antenna cleared with a few inches to spare.

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Comment by: Dave Anderson on May 22, 2021
Vessel Type: Sail
LOA: 40'
Draft: 4.0'

Board read above 64’. Our 63.5’ mast cleared the south span but antenna touched the north span.

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