Mathers Bridge, Road bridge in southern Merritt Island, Florida, US
Mathers Bridge is a road bridge made of steel and concrete that crosses the Banana River between Merritt Island and Indian Harbour Beach. The structure includes a rotating center section designed to allow boat traffic to pass through the waterway.
The structure was built in 1927 as a private toll crossing and operated under private ownership initially. In 1944, the Florida State Road Department took over management and converted it into public infrastructure.
The bridge serves as a daily crossing for residents connecting two communities across the river. It remains a functional part of local life, used regularly by people traveling between Merritt Island and the barrier island.
The bridge features a motorized rotating section that opens to let boats pass through the river. Visitors should expect occasional delays when boat traffic needs to cross.
The structure uses a Warren truss swing span design, a rare engineering solution from the early 1900s. This construction method is seldom seen in the region today and demonstrates historical bridge-building techniques.
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