Members of the “bridge crew” wore neon green shirts to Friday’s Duval legislative delegation meeting, urging state lawmakers to help reopen the Duval County side of the bridge.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — State lawmakers heard a wide range of requests from constituents Friday before returning to Tallahassee, but one issue repeatedly stood out: the future of the George Crady Bridge.
Anglers with the “bridge crew” addressed the delegation, calling on lawmakers to restore the fishing pier and reopen access to the bridge.
The bridge may never carry vehicles again, but anglers believe it could once more serve as a popular fishing destination.
“It has been closed and the fish are stacked up, waiting on us to come get them,” Leatrice Bell told lawmakers.
Bell was among several anglers who outlined their concerns about the George Crady Bridge Fishing Pier during the Duval legislative delegation meeting.
“We’re taxpayers,” Bell said. “We pay. We want these chains off, like yesterday.”
George Crady, the bridge’s namesake, also attended the meeting and asked lawmakers to fund a plan to repair the Duval County side. The section was damaged by Hurricane Matthew and closed soon afterward.
Jacksonville City Council Member Mike Gay joined the anglers in making their case. He told lawmakers that because the bridge belongs to the state, the city is limited in its ability to secure funding for repairs.
“Over 200,000 people, it’s been recorded, go to this bridge,” Gay said. “We have people who go out there to catch fish, put it in their frying pan. They look to feed their families with.”
Florida Representative Dean Black said he has been examining several options, including repairing the pier, constructing a replacement or installing catwalks along A1A beside the bridge.
“That bridge allows access to the deep waters of Nassau Sound, and you don’t have to have a boat,” Black said. “If you don’t have a boat, there’s no finer place to fish.”
The fishing pier was one of several issues presented to Black and the other lawmakers. The delegation also heard requests for additional transportation funding for the school district, money for homelessness programs and a bill that would establish an open-container district at the new Pearl Square in downtown Jacksonville.
“Citizens from every walk of life petitioning their government a redress of grievances or help with this thing or that,” Black said. “That’s democracy in action and I just love it.”
One representative noted that lawmakers had included funding for the bridge in several recent budgets, but the money was vetoed each time.
Lawmakers also noted that a new governor was recently elected, raising hopes that the bridge project could receive a different outcome in the next budget.