Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority North Swing Bridge Replacement
Gasparilla Island, Fla.     
Award of Merit

Owner Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority
Lead Design Firm Hardesty & Hanover LLC
General Contractor GLF Construction Corporation
Civil/Structural/MEP Engineer Hardesty & Hanover LLC
Construction Engineering & Inspection Kisinger Campo & Associates/KCCS Construction Services
Structural Steel & Machinery Manufacturer G&G Steel Inc.

The new Gasparilla Island swing bridge spans the Intracoastal Waterway in Florida. Since the existing Boca Grande swing bridge—built in 1958 with a length of 600 ft—provided the only access to Gasparilla Island, it needed to remain open and operable throughout the construction of the new structure. The new vertical clearance set for navigation reduced openings and allowed the new bridge to swing over the existing bridge. The new pivot-pier construction required a reduction in the channel width and temporary fender geometry in order to let the existing swing span rotate between the new rest and pivot piers. Collaboration between roadway, structural and coastal engineers was required to quantify and satisfy all the constraints and challenges for the bridge’s vertical geometry.