Astor Bridge

The Astor Bridge is a single-leaf bascule bridge located in Astor, Florida that carries State Road 40 over the St. Johns River. The first bridge on the site was built in 1926; the current bridge dates from 1980.HistoryThe original Astor Bridge, a wooden structure, was constructed across the St. Johns River in 1926; it replaced a ferry that crossed the river at Astor. A steel swing section was later constructed, replacing the original wooden structure.The current Astor Bridge was built in 1980, after the previous bridge was deemed dangerous and restricted to vehicles under. Residents favored a high-level bridge further south, but a drawbridge located adjacent to the existing bridge was considered the best option from cost and environmental standpoints.The new bridge was constructed by the Houdallie-Duval-Wright Co. of Jacksonville, which had bid $4,060,575 for the project. It opened in October 1980. Following its construction, the previous bridge's bridge tender's house was moved to the Blackwater Inn adjacent to the bridge, then to the Pioneer Settlement for Creative Arts in Barberville for preservation and display.After the construction of the current bridge a naming dispute arose between the towns of Astor and Volusia, which was not resolved until 1989 when the bridge was officially named the Astor Bridge.