Stuart to Miami · Intracoastal Waterway
ICW Bridge
Reference Guide
Clearances, opening schedules, and VHF channels for the principal bridges along the Intracoastal Waterway from Stuart to Miami — for planning purposes only.
⚠ Critical Notice — Read Before Transiting
This is a general reference guide. It is not a navigational chart. Do not use it as one.
Bridge schedules, clearances, and operational status change — often without advance notice. Bridges are closed for maintenance, mechanical failure, or emergency repair. Clearance heights vary with tide and water level. Opening schedules are frequently updated by the Army Corps of Engineers and USCG via Notices to Mariners.
Before any transit, verify current conditions through official sources:
- USCG Notices to Mariners: navcen.uscg.gov
- Army Corps of Engineers (Jacksonville District): Published bridge schedules
- VHF radio: Hail bridge tenders on VHF 09 to confirm schedule before approach
- ActiveCaptain / Navionics: Current community-reported conditions
Clearance data marked VERIFY reflects entries where Benjamin cannot independently confirm current accuracy. All data should be treated as approximate and verified before transit regardless of verification status.
Clearance Key:
Priority Alerts
George Bush Boulevard Bridge
9′ closed — critical clearance
Delray Beach
Camino Real Bridge (Boca Club Bridge)
9′ closed — critical clearance
Boca Raton
Venetian Causeway — East Span
REPORTED CLOSED — VERIFY
Miami
Venetian Causeway — West Span
REPORTED CLOSED — VERIFY
Miami
Venetian Causeway — East Span
REPORTED CLOSED — VERIFY
Miami
Venetian Causeway — West Span
REPORTED CLOSED — VERIFY
Miami
Martin County
Martin County
The ICW through Martin County transits wide, well-maintained lagoons with relatively high clearances. The Indian Street Bridge is the primary restriction for taller vessels.
Indian Street Bridge
Opens on the hour and half-hour
Primary crossing from the South Fork of the St. Lucie River toward the ICW in southern Martin County.
Ernest Lyons Bridge (Jensen Beach Causeway)
Fixed high-rise span. No opening required. Primary northern access to Hutchinson Island.
Sewall's Point / A1A Drawbridge
VerifyOpens on demand; no openings 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM Mon–Fri (federal holidays excepted)
Verify schedule before transit. Restricted opening schedule applies during peak commute hours.
Hobe Sound Bridge (CR 708)
Opens on request, 24 hours. No peak-hour restrictions reported.
The primary drawbridge crossing in southern Martin County — often called 'Cato's Bridge' by locals, though that name properly belongs to the sandbar anchorage nearby. At 21 feet closed, most powerboats pass without an opening but sailboats and taller flybridge vessels will need one. Contact: 772-546-5234. Bridge tender is generally responsive.
Palm Beach County
Jupiter & Tequesta — Loxahatchee River
The ICW corridor through Jupiter and Tequesta crosses the Loxahatchee River system via four movable bridges in quick succession. The Donald Ross Bridge has been reported BROKEN/INOPERABLE since early 2025 — vessels with air draft above 35 feet cannot pass without an opening that may not be available. Verify status before transit. The Indiantown Road bridge (SR 706) opens only on the hour and half-hour — plan your arrival accordingly.
Jupiter Island Bridge (CR 707)
Opens on request
The southernmost Tequesta bridge crossing — first movable span encountered southbound from Hobe Sound. Opens on demand; no reported rush-hour restrictions. Hail on VHF 09 before approach.
⚠ Post-2025 reconstruction status — verify clearance and operational schedule before transit. Bridge was under major construction 2023–2025; charted clearances may not reflect current conditions.
US 1 Federal Bridge (Jupiter)
VerifyOpens on request
The US 1 bridge over the Loxahatchee River at Jupiter underwent major reconstruction 2023–2025. Published clearances ranged from 26 to 42 feet in various sources during this period. Verify current conditions directly with the bridge tender or USCG Sector Miami before planning any transit.
Indiantown Road Bridge (SR 706)
Opens on the hour and half-hour only. No openings between openings — do not expect an on-demand response.
Double-leaf bascule bridge over the Loxahatchee River. This bridge does NOT open on demand — openings are strictly on the hour and half-hour. Plan your approach to arrive a few minutes before the opening time. If you miss an opening, the next is 30 minutes away; holding room north of the bridge is limited. Hail on VHF 09.
⚠ REPORTED INOPERABLE as of early 2025 — bridge stuck in down position with no confirmed repair timeline. Vessels requiring an opening cannot transit. Verify current status with USCG Sector Miami or bridge tender before planning any transit through this corridor.
Donald Ross Bridge
Normally opens on the hour and half-hour — VERIFY current operational status before transit.
The Donald Ross Bridge has been reported broken in the down (closed) position since early 2025 with no published repair timeline as of the date of this guide. At 35 feet closed, most powerboats can pass without an opening — but any vessel with a flybridge, tower, or mast above 35 feet air draft may be blocked. Confirm current status before departure. Contact: 561-626-3030.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County — North
The northern Palm Beach County ICW corridor from North Palm Beach south to Riviera Beach contains several restricted drawbridges. The Blue Heron Bridge at 14 ft is the key restriction for tall-air vessels entering Lake Worth Lagoon from the north. The Parker (US 1) Bridge at the northern entry opens only at quarter-past and three-quarter-past each hour — plan your approach timing accordingly.
Parker (US 1) Bridge
Opens at :15 and :45 past each hour (quarter and three-quarter hour). No openings 7:30–9 AM and 4:30–6 PM Mon–Fri.
The US 1 bridge north of Lake Worth Lagoon proper — a critical crossing for northbound vessels from the Palm Beach island corridor into the North Palm Beach waterway system. The quarter-past / three-quarter-past schedule is unusual; time your approach accordingly. Contact: 561-624-4175.
PGA Boulevard Bridge
Opens on demand; no openings 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM Mon–Fri
Key northern entry into Lake Worth Lagoon. Contact bridge tender on VHF 09 before approach.
Blue Heron Boulevard Bridge
Opens on demand; no openings 7–9 AM and 4–6 PM Mon–Fri
A critical low-clearance point at the northern entrance to Lake Worth Lagoon. Hail well in advance. The Phil Foster Park anchorage is immediately north of this bridge.
Parker Avenue Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand; restricted during rush hours
Northernmost of the Palm Beach island bridges. Verify current schedule.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach — The Island Bridges
Four movable bridges connect Palm Beach island to the mainland across Lake Worth (the ICW). Opening schedules are restricted during peak hours. Hail each bridge tender on VHF 09 well before arrival.
Flagler Memorial Bridge (SR 704)
Opens on the hour and half-hour; no openings 7:30–9 AM and 4:30–6 PM Mon–Fri
One of the most-used Palm Beach crossings. Restricted during morning and evening commute windows. Monitor VHF 09.
Royal Park Bridge (SR A1A)
Opens on demand; no openings 7:30–9 AM and 4:30–6 PM Mon–Fri
Opens on demand outside rush hours. Hail tender on VHF 09.
Southern Boulevard Bridge (SR 700)
Opens on demand; no openings 7:30–9 AM and 4:30–6 PM Mon–Fri
Key crossing between Flagler Drive and Southern Blvd. Busy at all hours.
Palm Beach County
Palm Beach County — South
The southern Lake Worth Lagoon and Boca Raton reach contains the two most restrictive bridges on the Florida ICW — both measuring only 9 feet of clearance at closed position. Vessels over 9 feet air draft cannot pass without an opening. Plan opening times carefully.
Lake Avenue Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand; restricted during peak hours
Verify current schedule. Downtown Lake Worth Beach waterfront.
Lantana Road Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand
Ocean Avenue Bridge (Boynton Beach)
VerifyOpens on demand; restricted during peak hours
Active boating area near Boynton Beach Inlet. Verify schedule.
East Atlantic Avenue Bridge
VerifyRestricted schedule — verify with USCG/bridge tender before transit
Downtown Delray Beach. Multiple bridges cross the ICW in this area. Verify current status.
⚠ Only 9 feet of clearance at closed position — one of the most restrictive bridges on the Florida ICW.
George Bush Boulevard Bridge
Opens on demand outside rush hours; no openings during AM and PM peak windows. Verify exact schedule.
At 9 feet, this bridge requires an opening for virtually any production sailboat and many trawler-style powerboats. Schedule an opening and approach with caution. Do not attempt to time a crossing without confirming the schedule.
Linton Boulevard Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand; restricted during rush hours
Yamato Road Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand
⚠ Only 9 feet of clearance — the single most restrictive bridge on Florida's ICW. Hourly openings only outside restricted windows.
Camino Real Bridge (Boca Club Bridge)
Opens on the hour only; no openings 7:30–9 AM and 4:30–6 PM Mon–Fri. Verify.
The Camino Real Bridge is the most operationally limiting drawbridge on the Florida ICW. At 9 feet closed, nearly every vessel with a flybridge or mast requires an opening — which comes only once per hour outside rush windows. Plan your approach to arrive before the opening time. Anchoring is limited here; do not be caught waiting with no holding room.
Palmetto Park Road Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand; restricted during rush hours
Broward County
Broward County
Broward County bridges are generally on-demand with rush-hour restrictions. The Las Olas and 17th Street Causeway bridges in Fort Lauderdale serve the highest traffic volume and can involve waits during peak season.
Hillsboro Boulevard Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand; restricted during rush hours
Northern Broward County entry. Pompano Beach just south.
Sample Road Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand
Atlantic Boulevard Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand; no openings during AM and PM peak hours weekdays
Oakland Park Boulevard Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand outside rush hours
East Sunrise Boulevard Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand; restricted rush hours
Las Olas Boulevard Bridge
No openings 7:30–9 AM and 4:30–6:30 PM Mon–Fri; opens on demand otherwise
One of the busiest ICW crossings in South Florida. During Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), bridge traffic increases significantly. Expect waits during peak season.
SE 17th Street Causeway Bridge
No openings 7:30–9 AM and 4:30–6 PM Mon–Fri; on demand otherwise
High-volume bridge immediately adjacent to Port Everglades. Bridge tender is generally responsive. During FLIBS, this corridor sees enormous vessel traffic — plan accordingly.
Dania Beach Boulevard Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand
Sheridan Street Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand
Hollywood Boulevard Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand; restricted rush hours
Hallandale Beach Boulevard Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand
Miami-Dade County
Miami-Dade County
The Miami-Dade ICW corridor includes a mix of fixed high-rises and low drawbridges. Julia Tuttle (I-195) at 56 feet is the lowest fixed span in this corridor and the reference clearance for mast-step decisions. The Venetian Causeway was reported closed as of early 2026 — verify status before planning a transit.
Hallandale Beach Blvd (north Miami-Dade)
VerifyOpens on demand
NE 167th Street Bridge
VerifyOpens on demand
Julia Tuttle Causeway (I-195)
The lowest fixed span in the Stuart-to-Miami ICW corridor. Vessels requiring mast passage should use this clearance as their minimum planning reference. Confirm exact charted clearance for your vessel's air draft.
MacArthur Causeway (I-395)
Fixed high-rise span. No opening required. Gateway to Government Cut and Port of Miami.
⚠ REPORTED CLOSED as of February 2026. Verify current status before planning any transit through this corridor.
Venetian Causeway — East Span
The Venetian Causeway spans are among the lowest-clearance structures on Miami's ICW. The eastbound span was reported closed for structural or mechanical work as of February 2026. Do not plan a transit through this bridge without independently confirming current status with USCG Sector Miami.
⚠ REPORTED CLOSED as of February 2026. Verify current status.
Venetian Causeway — West Span
The westbound Venetian span shares the same reported closure as the east span. At only 12 feet when closed, any vessel with a superstructure requires an opening even when operational. Confirm current status before approach.
Official Navigation Resources
Always Verify Before You Transit
USCG Navigation Center
navcen.uscg.govOfficial Notices to Mariners, bridge opening schedules, and waterway alerts for the Florida ICW.
NOAA Chart Viewer
charts.noaa.govCurrent NOAA nautical charts for the Florida ICW. Charted clearances reflect MHWL (mean high water).
Army Corps Jacksonville
saj.usace.army.milThe Jacksonville District manages most Florida ICW bridge opening schedules. Published regulations are updated periodically.
Bridge data is provided for general reference only and is not guaranteed accurate, complete, or current. Schedules, clearances, and operational status change without notice. Always verify directly with bridge tenders, USCG Notices to Mariners, and the Army Corps of Engineers before any transit. This guide is not a nautical chart, not a substitute for local knowledge, and not a navigational aid. Use it only to supplement your own research. © 2026Saltwater Estates · Barefoot Realty & Investments LLC · FL BK3222885.