Matlacha Bridge

Matlacha Bridge
Official name	Malacha Bridge
Carries	CR 78
Crosses	Matlacha Pass
Locale	Matlacha, Florida
Maintained by	Lee County Department of Transportation
Design	Bascule bridge
Vertical clearance	9 Feet (with drawbridge lowered)
Opened	1927
Toll	None
Coordinates	26°37'57.55"N/82°04'04.68"W

The Matlacha Bridge (pronounced "Mat-La-Shay") is a small single-leaf drawbridge located in Matlacha, Florida. It carries State Road 78 (Pine Island Road) over Matlacha Pass, connecting Pine Island with the mainland in Cape Coral.

The Matlacha Bridge first opened in 1927 as a wooden swing bridge, and it is only 9 feet tall. Since its opening, the bridge has become a very popular fishing spot for local residents. It has been nicknamed "The fishingest bridge in the world".^[1]

Due to its old age, the Lee County Department of Transportation has decided to replace the current bridge built in 1968. The new bridge will be identical to the current bridge, a 9-foot single-leaf drawbridge. Construction is set to begin in September 2010, and is expected to be completed by late 2012.^[2]

References

1. ^ Don’t Pass on Matlacha
2. ^ "Matlacha Bridge Replacement Construction". http://matlachabridge.info/about-the-new-bridge/. Retrieved 2011-03-03. 

Coordinates: 26°37′57.55″N 82°04′04.68″W / 26.6326528°N 82.0679667°W / 26.6326528; -82.0679667