Matlacha Bridge

The Matlacha Bridge is a small single-leaf drawbridge located in Matlacha, Florida. It carries County Road 78 over Matlacha Pass, connecting Pine Island with the mainland in Cape Coral.The first bridge spanning Matlacha Pass was a small wooden swing bridge. The first bridge was built largely in part to the influence of Pine Island resident Harry Stingfellow, who served as a county commissioner from 1926 to 1953.The first bridge was replaced with a concrete bascule bridge in 1968. The bridge became a very popular fishing spot for local residents, and was nicknamed "The fishingest bridge in the world". The current bascule bridge opened on November 18, 2012. The current span is 9 feet tall, similar to its predecessor.After its demolition, the previous bridge was made into an artificial reef at Novak's reef, which is about 3 miles off the coast of Charlotte County.