Merrill P. Barber Bridge, Concrete arch bridge in Indian River County, Florida.
The Merrill P. Barber Bridge is a concrete arch bridge completed in 1995 over the Indian River Intracoastal Waterway in Indian River County, Florida. It has a total length of 3,834 feet (1,169 m) with a main span of 100 feet (30 m) and a vertical clearance of 65 feet. A fishing pier stands below the bridge on the east side.
The bridge replaced an earlier steel bascule bridge from 1951 when it was built in 1995, marking a major upgrade to the region's transportation infrastructure. This change enabled better traffic flow across the Indian River to the barrier island.
The bridge bears the name of Merrill P. Barber, a former mayor of Vero Beach whose legacy remains connected to local governance and community development. This naming reflects how the structure ties into the region's civic identity.
A fishing pier on the east side beneath the bridge offers direct access for recreational fishing and water observation. This spot is easy to reach and provides a practical way to experience the waterway up close.
The 1951 Barber Bridge had a steel bascule span that was in constant disrepair. After the span was removed, Disney bought it and it now stands at Walt Disney World in Orlando, while the rest of the old bridge was barged out to sea and sunk as a reef.
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