The LaBelle drawbridge currently carries a high volume of heavy commercial traffic that it wasn't initially designed for when it was built in the 1950's. [Photo by Richard Marion/Hendry County News]

LABELLE – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District will implement a temporary full closure of the LaBelle Drawbridge carrying S.R. 29 over the Caloosahatchee River in Hendry County to perform urgent repairs to the bridge.

FDOT says these repairs are urgent and required to ensure the long-term safety of the traveling public. Additional repairs will be necessary in the future.

To minimize the impact on weekday commuters, the structural repairs will be completed over two consecutive weekends, from Friday through Sunday, for a total of six days of closures. The first weekend closure starts Friday, July 17 and runs through Sunday, July 19. The second weekend closure starts Friday, July 24 and runs through Sunday, July 26.

Also, beginning July 17, a strict 17-ton weight limit will be enforced on the bridge. All vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight of 17 tons or more are prohibited from crossing until repairs are complete and engineers certify its safe load capacity. The Hendry County Sherriff’s Office will enforce this weight limit. In the meantime, commercial truck drivers exceeding this limit must utilize a 53-mile detour and should plan for significant extra travel time.

Emergency vehicles like ambulances and buses will continue to have access to the bridge throughout the week. During weekends, officers will be stationed at both ends of the closed bridge to help manage traffic and respond to any emergencies that arise. First responders will ensure fire trucks will be stationed on both sides of the bridge during the closure as well.

Additionally, during the closure at least one section of the drawbridge will be up which will allow any large boat traffic to pass through.

Photo by Richard Marion/Hendry County News

The LaBelle drawbridge was built in the 1950’s and according to FDOT District Structures Maintenance Engineer Tara Rodrigues it currently carries a high percentage of heavy commercial truck traffic that it was not originally designed for.

“We’re taking these steps because our engineering team has identified fatigue related damage on the bridge’s steel components,” said Rodrigues. “Over the years the structure has carried an unusually high quantity of heavy tonnage commercial traffic. This repeated cyclical loading has caused deterioration that requires our immediate proactive repair to ensure the long-term safety of the travelling public.”

Rodrigues emphasized that these repairs are not optional, they are necessary to ensure the integrity of the vital regional corridor through Hendry County.

According to FDOT, approximately 17,000 vehicles travel over the LaBelle drawbridge every day and 18% of that traffic is heavy commercial trucks.

HCSO Lieutenant District Commander Everton Morgan Jr. speaks during the July 15 FDOT press conference. [Photo by Richard Marion/Hendry County News]

FDOT has established two designated detour routes to safely redirect traffic during the closure periods:

DETOUR ROUTES

MAP 1 – Regional Detour (All Commercial Trucks & Heavy Vehicles)

Due to weight limits of 17-tons or more and turning constraints on local roads, all commercial trucks and heavy vehicles must utilize the 53-mile regional detour via state roadways:

• Northbound (From South of LaBelle to Palmdale):
• From S.R. 29, head east on S.R. 80 to U.S. 27
• Head north on U.S. 27 to S.R. 78
• Head west on S.R. 78 to return to S.R. 29
•                                                                                                                                          
• Southbound (From Palmdale to South of LaBelle):
• From S.R. 29, head east on S.R. 78 to U.S. 27
• Head south on U.S. 27 to S.R. 80
• Head west on S.R. 80 to return to S.R. 29

MAP 2 – Local Traffic Detour (Passenger Vehicles Only — NO TRUCKS)

Local passenger car traffic may utilize Fort Denaud Road as a localized bypass. Trucks are strictly prohibited from this route.

• Northbound (From South of LaBelle to North of LaBelle):
• From S.R. 29, head west on S.R. 80 to Fort Denaud Road
• Follow Fort Denaud Road to Fort Denaud Bridge Road
• Head north across the river on Fort Denaud Bridge Road to C.R. 78
• Head east on C.R. 78 to return to S.R. 29
•  
• Southbound (From North of LaBelle to South of LaBelle):
• From S.R. 29, head west on C.R. 78 to Fort Denaud Bridge Road
• Head south across the river on Fort Denaud Bridge Road to Fort Denaud Road
• Head east on Fort Denaud Road, which becomes Cowboy Way          (S.R. 80A), to S.R. 80
• Head east on S.R. 80 to return to S.R. 29

Law enforcement will be in full force on both sides of the bridge to observe commercial drivers and enforce the TRUCK ROUTE Detour.