Dames Point Bridge

Dames Point Bridge is a cable-stayed crossing over the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, rising on H-shaped concrete towers that stand 144 meters tall and spanning a total of 3218 meters. The roadway carries six lanes of Interstate 295 in a gentle arc across the wide river, forming one of the most prominent crossings in northeast Florida.

Construction started in 1985 and concluded in 1989 to meet growing traffic demands in the greater Jacksonville area. The crossing became one of the first major examples of a prestressed concrete cable-stayed design in the United States.

Local drivers typically refer to it as Dames Point rather than using the official Napoleon Bonaparte Broward designation in everyday conversation. The structure links Arlington to the south with areas north of the river and shapes the city's profile as a landmark visible across the region.

The crossing remains open around the clock and provides a direct route for through traffic on Interstate 295. Weather conditions can be noticeable, especially wind, when driving across the long exposed roadway.

The cable arrangement follows a harp pattern in which the cables run nearly parallel from the tower to the roadway. This design approach remained the only one of its kind across the country until 2003 and requires roughly 34 kilometers of steel wire for the entire suspension system.

Location: Jacksonville

Inception: 1989

Height: 144 m

Length: 3,218 m

Made from material: prestressed concrete, reinforced concrete, steel

GPS coordinates: 30.38580,-81.55830

Latest update: December 5, 2025 22:27