Seven Mile Bridge

[Cookiely]

If sections of the bridge were destroyed, is there a contingency plan in place? Is a ferry feasible? Would people have to wait months and months before going home?

[jasons2k]

If sections of the bridge were destroyed, is there a contingency plan in place? Is a ferry feasible? Would people have to wait months and months before going home?

Good Question.

I know a causeway somewhere in Texas a few years back was destroyed (I think maybe to So. Padre) and I can't rememeber the solution. I think they may have ferried for awhile.

[MGC]

7 mile bridge in the keys?....MGC

[Ixolib]

Considering the intention is to evacuate the lower Keys - especially in the face of any 'cane strong enough to destroy the 7-mile bridge - there "supposedly"should be no one left anywhere west of the bridge. But for the ride back in, I'd imagine ferries would "become" available, but probably later rather than sooner...

[docjoe]

In 1979 Frederic destroyed part of the Dauphin Island bridge necessitating ferry use for island residents for a couple of years if I remember correctly.

docjoe

[Sanibel]

Ferries and an advanced rebuild schedule like for I-10...

[EDR1222]

That could create a nightmare for sure if the bridge down there was damaged and couldn't be used.

[EDR1222]

A severe hurricane going right through the Keys has not happened in many years. That area is definately one of the most vulnerable areas.

[Shoshana]

If sections of the bridge were destroyed, is there a contingency plan in place? Is a ferry feasible? Would people have to wait months and months before going home?

Good Question.

I know a causeway somewhere in Texas a few years back was destroyed (I think maybe to So. Padre) and I can't rememeber the solution. I think they may have ferried for awhile.

South Padre, Oct 2001.

http://www.stexasbiz.com/TXBIZ/COLLAPSE/collapse.html

'shana

[Derek Ortt]

that bridge will be nearly impossible to destroy.

S fla doesn't get the surge that Pensacola and Alabama gets. Sure, we get hgher waves, but it will be waves crashing against the bridge (which is well above the ocean)

I think a greater concern would be for the flat portions of the road on the lower keys being washed out, or for some of the smaller bridges to be destroyed. Effect would be the same

[Brent]

Especially for the people who did not evacuate...with the airport closed...Ferry's would be the only way to get supplies..they'd have to be almost self sufficient for a while after the storm...

Kevin Cho - East Naples, FL
Junior: Naples High School

People who don't evacuate would drown in the surge from a major hurricane in the Keys(only a few feet above sea level). There would be no one left to give supplies too unless they lived in something waterproof with oxygen.

[Patrick99]

I'd like to see the storm capable of destroying that bridge. I'm pretty sure they built it with strong hurricanes in mind...also, the bridge mostly spans very shallow water with very little wave action. Even with a maximum surge, I'd doubt there would be enough wave action to take out that bridge. It's all tarpon and permit flats, for you fishermen out there , with a few channels cutting through to FL Bay.