Caloosahatchee Bridge, Road bridge spanning the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, United States
The Caloosahatchee Bridge is a road bridge that spans the Caloosahatchee River in Fort Myers, connecting North Fort Myers to the city center. The structure stretches about 1 mile (1.6 km) of concrete lanes carrying four lanes of traffic along U.S. Highway 41.
The bridge opened in 1964 after two years of construction, altering the path of U.S. Highway 41 to bypass downtown Fort Myers. It replaced an older two-lane drawbridge that had served the area for many years before becoming inadequate for growing traffic.
The bridge was officially named Henry Ford Bridge in 2014 to honor the industrial legacy that shaped Fort Myers. This name reflects the city's historical connection to the automotive industry and early 20th-century innovation.
Crossing is free and the structure is maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation, which ensures proper upkeep of this 55-foot-high concrete facility. Expect occasional delays during ongoing renovation work aimed at improving pedestrian access across the span.
The bridge is currently undergoing renovation to add an 8-foot (2.4-meter) sidewalk on its west side, requiring full closure of the roadway during construction. This project uses accelerated building methods to reduce the time the bridge remains closed to traffic.
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