Bridge links Anastasia Island to St Augustine

Timeline

1895 First bridge links Anastasia Island and downtown St. Augustine.

1918 Decision to replace existing wooden structure is made.

1922 County purchases the old wooden toll bridge from the St. Johns County Electric Company, with the idea of making it free.

1924 April 19 – Contract for preliminary work on a new bridge awarded to J. E. Greiner Company of Baltimore, MD.

1924 July 10 – Dr. Andrew Anderson offers 2 marble lion statues to adorn bridge.

1925 February – Voters support bond issue to build new bridge.

1925 June – First bucket of concrete poured for the bridge.

1927 February 26 – First car drives over the bridge.

1927 April 7th – Ponce de Leon Celebration centered around “Dixie’s most handsome span.”

1927 Lions are put in place coining “Bridge of Lions”.

1933 State leases bridge from city and ends tolls.

1943 Lease/purchase agreement signed between city and state.

1944 Hurricane puts out lights on the bridge – they stay off until 1946.

1956 New light fixtures put on the old standards on the bridge.

1971 Plan announced to put new railings, lights and light standards on the bridge, defacing its ornate architecture.

1972 City officials threaten to jail contractor if he closes bridge while making repairs.

1974 Traffic study for bridge undertaken.

1974 November – Criticism of a projected bridge replacement that would have included a 7-lane toll plaza on Anastasia Island.

1975 Plan for a parallel bridge ruled out because of cost.

1981 Department of Transportation proposes four lane span – meet opposition.

1981 “Save Our Bridge” bumper stickers first appear, distributed by Friends of St. Augustine Architecture.

1982 Department of Transportation halts plans for a new four lane bridge.

1982 Bridge nominated to National Register of Historic Places.

1986 Lion statues moved about 40 feet west of their original location, aggravating cracks in the marble.

1990 Load limit of 15 (rather than 40) tons put in place to protect bridge.

1993 Four lane bridge is ruled out as an option. Only two lane structures are now being considered.

1995 DOT leaning towards restoration.

1996 April 13 – St. Augustine Record reports “replacement now serious option/ Coast Guard wants wider clearance.”

1996 Advisory Council on Historic Preservation suggests a variance to the new Coast Guard standards.

1996 St. Augustine City Commission votes to support restoration.

1997 Bridge included on list of “11 Most Endangered Historic Sites” by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

1998 July 4th – The Save Our Bridge Committee is formed – circulating Fact Sheets and Petitions.

1998 August 8th – “Spanning the Generations”, an art show at the St. Augustine Art Association showcasing the bridge opens to record attendance.

1998 August 29th, Bill Wharton and the Ingredients awareness raising concert at the St. Augustine Art Association.

1998 Bridge of Lions appears on the cover of the 1999 Engagement Calendar of the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

1999 February – FDOT issues its “Draft Environmental Impact Statement”, launching a 90 day comment period.

2002 March 13 & 14 – FDOT holds three public meetings for the City of St. Augustine and surrounding areas impacted by the rehabilitation project.

2003 June 26 & 27 – FDOT holds two public meetings regarding the bridge design which is at 90% completion.

2003 July – The Final Environmental Impact Statement is released.

2003 October – A Record of Decision was signed by the Federal Highway Administration, finalizing the decision to rehabilitation the bridge.

2004 June 6 – Construction Contract awarded to Tidewater Skanska

2005 February – Marble lions are moved into storage. Work commences on temporary bridge

2006 May 17 – The Temporary Bridge is completed. Traffic is switched over at 7 p.m.

2006 May 26 – A ceremony is hosted by URS and the City of St. Augustine to officially close the Bridge of Lions. The rehabilitation begins.

Timeline reported on website of the citizens committee Save our Bridge http://thebridgeoflions.org/.