August 6, 2020

After more than four years of construction, Veterans Memorial Bridge, also called the Orange Avenue Bridge in Daytona Beach, opened to traffic Thursday morning.

The brand new high-rise connects the beachside to downtown.

Bridge Construction Remains in Progress (Picture taken 5-27-20) 

Veterans Memorial Bridge Update – October 2019

The Veterans Memorial Bridge project in Daytona Beach continues to make steady progress. This project includes over 3,000,000 Pounds of steel and 13,000 Cubic Yards of concrete. The construction of the foundations of the new bridge are complete, which included the driving of 250 concrete pilings (some measuring in excess of 100-feet long) into the riverbed. Additionally, the concrete footings, columns and caps are all now complete. There are 16 Piers/Abutments, including 10 piers out in the water. All of the signature Arch Segments have been constructed, with post-tensioning and grouting completed. The placement of beams continues; approximately 70% of the beams are now in place (the bridge has 15 spans). Concrete Deck placements began in August 2019. The deck concrete has now been placed for seven of the spans. The construction of the East and West Roadway (bridge approaches), including segmental block walls and barrier walls, continues to make progress. Bridge Handrail and Roadway Lighting construction has also begun.

For more information about the project, please see the revised Capital Projects Schedule.

Video Created and Provided by: Patrick Roy, Unit 810 

The story of an old draw bridge .mp4

 October 2017 Picture of Daytona Coastal Area

http://www.volusia.org/veteransmemorialbridge/construction-photos.stml

New Veterans Memorial Bridge construction update

Posted On: November 11th

The demolition of the existing drawbridge at Orange Avenue/Silver Beach Avenue in Daytona Beach is approximately 50 percent complete with the removal of the deck and piling. The bridge demolition on the west side – from the channel to the shore line has been completed. Project officials expect to have the remainder of the bridge demolition on the east side – from the channel to the shore line completed in the next four to six months.

The next phase includes laying the foundation and pile driving, which involves the driving of 225 concrete pilings (some measuring 30-inches square and 100-feet long) into the riverbed. This phase is expected to begin Thursday, Nov. 17. People in the area can expect to hear the continued sounds of the hammer driving the pile into the ground and will notice some vibration. Pile driving is expected to continue for 12 months. Pile driving will occur from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Weekend work may be done upon request and approval by the county.

As the demolition of the existing drawbridge continues to make way for the new Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge in Daytona Beach, donations are being collected to construct a $1.2 million Veterans Memorial Plaza, which will be built on the northwest side of the bridge. Donations will be held in escrow by the county for five years, at which time the county will construct as much of the proposed plaza as donations permit.  

The creation of the Veterans Memorial Plaza was discussed by residents and community leaders during the public input phase of creating the new Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge.  The plaza will serve as a special place in the community to honor veterans from Volusia County, all branches of the military and those who have fallen in a military conflict. It will also provide a location for local veteran organizations to host military ceremonies and celebrations.

To make a donation to help fund the creation of the Veterans Memorial Plaza, please contact Volusia County Accounting at 386-736-5933 or send a check made payable to Volusia County, 123 W. Indiana Ave., Room 302, DeLand, FL 32720 and note on the check Veterans Memorial Donation. 

The Tom Staed Veterans Memorial Bridge construction began in early June and is expected to last for 32-months before reopening.

For more information and to view construction progress photos, visit http://www.veteransmemorialbridge.com.  

The images above are from these two web sites. As of now, Nov 2014, construction is expected to begin the early part of 2016.

     USCG Public Notice

     Memorial Bridge Design Elements