Shands Bridge, Road bridge over the St. Johns River in Clay County, Florida, United States

Shands Bridge is a two-lane concrete beam-type road bridge carrying SR 16 over the St. Johns River south of Jacksonville, Florida. Its deck sits 45 feet above the water, and it has no street lighting or pedestrian path, only narrow shoulders beside each lane.

The first crossing here was a 2-mile wooden toll span with a drawbridge, opened in 1928 just north of today's bridge, running from Orangedale to the Shands pier. The current concrete beam bridge was dedicated on October 30, 1963, with two lanes. Until the I-295 Buckman Bridge was built, it was the only St. Johns River crossing between Jacksonville and Palatka.

The bridge carries Florida State Road 16 (SR 16) over the St. Johns River south of Jacksonville. Until the I-295 Buckman Bridge was built, it was the only river crossing between Jacksonville and Palatka, and it remains the SR 16 link between Clay County and St. Johns County.

The bridge is accessible during normal traffic hours and allows steady crossing of the river in both directions. Keep in mind that active vehicle traffic uses the bridge and standard road rules apply.

The current span is not the first at this site: a 2-mile wooden toll bridge with a draw span opened just north of it in 1928, crossing from Orangedale to the Shands pier. The present bridge was dedicated on October 30, 1963, and until the Buckman Bridge opened it was the only St. Johns crossing between Jacksonville and Palatka.