We’ve been fighting for this for a long time, and the U.S. Coast Guard finally issued a final ruling on the operating schedule for the Florida East Coast Railroad Bridge over the Okeechobee Waterway—better known as the St. Lucie River at the Roosevelt Bridge in downtown Stuart.

When Brightline first announced that it would run dozens of passenger trains a day—in addition to the already-busy freight schedule—across this single-track drawbridge, our community rallied together to make it clear that boaters needed access to this waterway. 

Let’s break down some of the details: 

• Bridge stays open by default

• The bridge must remain open to boaters unless a train is passing or if the Coast Guard has authorized maintenance. 

• Daytime limits (6 a.m. to 8 p.m.) 

• The bridge can not be closed for more than 50 consecutive minutes in any hour. 

• Nighttime rules (8:01 p.m. to 5:59 a.m.) 

• The bridge must remain fully open to boaters except when a train is passing or during maintenance. 

• Any closure can not last longer than 60 consecutive minutes. 

• Delays are limited 

• If a train happens to be on the tracks at the start of a scheduled opening, the opening can only be delayed by up to 5 minutes. After that, the bridge must open. 

• 24/7 communication

• From 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., a bridge tender will be on duty to monitor VHF-FM channels 9 and 16. 

• Boaters can call (305) 889-5576 for information, anytime.

• Read the full rule here. 

The bottom line: it finally means no more guessing when the bridge will be open. This ruling helps to ensure that the St. Lucie River remains open and accessible—protecting our economy and way-of-life.