Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

Site Navigation

Home

Communications

Cruising Guides

Marine Navigation

Weather

~ Notices ~

Planning is being done for a new high level span to replace the now removed Jordan Highway Bridge at MM 2.8. If the proposed bridge is approved, delays may be encountered during construction.

"The Ditch" / ICW

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) or "The Ditch" as many refer to it is generally considered to start in Norfolk, VA (mile marker 0) and run south to Miami, FL. Comprised of both manmade and natural canals, rivers, bays, and sounds, it provides a protected passage for those transiting the lower east coast of the U. S.

The unofficial northern end is considered to be Manasquan, NJ where smaller boats may cruise south through New Jerseys’ largely unimproved channels. Caution should be used here, as much of New Jersey’s portion of the ICW is shoal. From New Jersey your route will take you through the Delaware Bay, the C&D Canal, and the Chesapeake Bay to Norfolk.

The unofficial southern end of the ICW is Key West. South of Miami, an off lying reef provides some protection for those headed further south.

Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway - Bridge & Lock Schedule

The table below lists the bridges & locks; their schedules, and restrictions along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway (AICW) from Norfolk, VA to Miami, FL and onto Key West, FL.

It should be noted that in recent years there has been ongoing bridge construction the length of the ICW in an effort to replace many of the existing operating bridges. As these new 65’ bridges have been completed many of the operating bridges they have replaced are being demolished and of those that remain, many are having their operating schedule restrictions modified or lifted.

This list is believed to be accurate as of November/December 2009. If any errors or omissions are noted, please e-mail us at with any corrections or recommendations.

This bridge operating schedule can be downloaded for your personal use as a ZIP file. The file contains the schedule in Adobe (.pdf) file format.

Please note: This is a Zipped file of 92 Kb.

AICW Bridge and Lock Schedule - Download

Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

Mile Marker Bridge Vert. Clear. Schedule Restrictions VHF
Virginia
2.6 N&P BL RR Lift Bridge 6’ Usually Open Closes for RR Traffic 13
2.8 Jordan Highway Lift Bridge Unl. Permanently Open Lift Span Removed --
3.6 N&W RR Lift Bridge 9’ Usually Open Closes for RR Traffic 13
5.8 Gilmerton Highway Bascule Bridge 11’ Opens on Demand Closed M-F 0630-0830 & 1530-1730 Xcpt Fed. Holidays 13
5.8 N&S RR Bascule Bridge 7’ Usually Open Closes for RR Traffic 13
7.1 I-64 Bascule Bridge 65’ Opens on Demand 24 Hour Notice Required 13
8.8 Dominion Highway Bascule Bridge 12’ On the hour 0600-1800, other times on demand. Closed M-F 0700-0900 & 1600-1800 Xcpt Fed. Holidays 13
11.5 Great Bridge Lock --- On Demand 0600-1900 Northbound on the Hr. - Southbound on the 1/2 Hr. 13
12.0 Great Bridge Swing Bridge 6’ On the hour 0600-1900, other times on demand. Bridge & Lock openings synchronized 13
13.9 A&C RR Bascule Bridge 7’ Usually Open Closes for RR Traffic 13
15.2 Centerville Turnpike Swing Bridge 13’ On the Hr. & 1/2 Hr. 0830-1600, other times on demand. Closed M-F 0630-0830 & 1600-1800 Xcpt Fed. Holidays 13
20.2 North Landing Swing Bridge 3’ On the Hr. & 1/2 Hr. 0600-1900, other times on demand.   13
Mile Marker Bridge Vert. Clear. Schedule Restrictions VHF
North Carolina
84.2 Alligator River Swing Bridge 14’ Opens on Demand   13
203.7 Morehead City RR Bascule Bridge 4’ Usually Open Closes for RR Traffic 13
240.7 Onslow Beach Swing Bridge 12’ On the Hr. & 1/2 Hr. 0700-1900, other times on demand. No openings when closed by the military. 13
260.7 Surf City Swing Bridge 13’ On the hour 0700-1900, other times on demand.   13
278.1 Figure Eight Island Swing Bridge 20’ On the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   13
283.1 Wrightsville Bascule Bridge 20’ On the hour 0700-1900, other times on demand. Closed 3rd & 4th Saturdays in September from 0700-1100 13
337.9 Sunset Beach Pontoon Bridge 0’ On the Hour 0700-2100, other times on demand.   13
Mile Marker Bridge Vert. Clear. Schedule Restrictions VHF
South Carolina
347.3 Little River Swing Bridge 7’ Opens on Demand   09
354.0 Barefoot Landing Swing Bridge 31’ Opens on Demand   09
365.0 MB RR Bascule Bridge 16’ Always Open Abandoned --
371.0 Socastee Swing Bridge 12’ Opens on Demand   09
462.2 Ben Sawyer Swing Bridge 31’ Weekends & Holidays opens on the Hour from 0900-1900, other times on demand. Closed M-F 0700 - 0900 & 1600 - 1800 09
470.8 Wapoo Creek Bascule Bridge 31’ On Demand - except: From 4/1 - 11/30, 0900-1600 M-F & 0900-1900 weekends & holidays on the Hr & 1/2 Hr. From 6/1 - 9/30 & from 12/1 - 3/30, closed from 0630-0900 & 1600-1830 M-F except holidays. From 4/1 - 5/31 & from 10/1 - 11/30 closed from 0600-0900 & 1600-1830 M-F except holidays. 09
536.0 Ladies Island Swing Bridge 30’ On the Hr. & 1/2 Hr. M-F from 0900 to 1600, other times on demand. Closed M-F 0700 - 0900 & 1600 - 1800 Xcpt Fed. Holidays. 09
Mile Marker Bridge Vert. Clear. Schedule Restrictions VHF
Georgia
579.9 Causton Bluff Bascule Bridge 21’ Opens on Demand Closed M-F 0630 - 0900 & 1630 - 1830 Xcpt openings at 0700, 0800, & 1730 09
592.9 Skidaway Narrows Bascule Bridge 22’ Opens on Demand On the Hr 0700-0900 & on the 1/2 Hr from 1630-1800 09
Mile Marker Bridge Vert. Clear. Schedule Restrictions VHF
Florida
721.0 Kingsley Creek RR Bascule Bridge 5’ Usually Open Closes for RR Traffic. 09
739.2 Sisters Creek Bascule Bridge 24’ Opens on Demand   09
747.5 BB McCormick Bascule Bridge 37’ Opens on demand. Except that during 4/1-5/31 & 10/1-11/30 from 0700 to 0900 and 1630 to 1830 M-F except holidays, the draw need open only on the Hr and 1/2 Hr. During 4/1-5/31 & 10/1-11/30 from 1200 to 1800 weekends and holidays, the draw need open only on the Hr and 1/2 Hr. 09
777.9 Bridge of Lions Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on the Hr. 0700 - 1800, other times on demand. Closed M-F at 0800, 1200, & 1700. 09
788.6 Crescent Beach Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on Demand   09
816.0 Bulow Bascule Bridge 15’ Opens on Demand   09
829.7 Main Street Bascule Bridge 22’ Opens on Demand   09
830.6 Memorial Bascule Bridge 21’ Opens on Demand Closed M-Sat. 0745-0845 & 1645-1745 Xcpt openings 0815 & 1715. 09
845.0 Coronado Beach Bascule Bridge 23’ Opens on the Hr. & every 20 minutes thereafter from 0700-1900, other times on demand.   09
869.2 Allenhurst-Haulover Bascule Bridge 27’ Opens on Demand   09
876.6 Jay-Jay/NASA RR Bascule Bridge 7’ Usually Open Closes for RR Traffic 09
878.9 Titusville Swing Bridge 9’ Opens on Demand Closed M-F 0600-0715 & 1515-1630 Xcpt Fed. Holidays. 09
885.0 Addison Point Bascule Bridge 27’ Opens on Demand Closed M-F 0630-0800 & 1530-1700 Xcpt Fed. Holidays. 09
965.0 Ft. Pierce Bascule Bridge 26’ Opens on Demand   09
995.9 Hobe Sound Bascule Bridge 21’ Opens on Demand   09
1004.1 Jupiter Island Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on Demand   09
1004.8 Jupiter US#1 Bascule Bridge 26’ Opens on Demand   09
1006.2 Indiantown Road Bascule Bridge 35’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1009.3 Juno Beach Bascule Bridge 35’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1012.6 PGA Blvd. Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1013.7 Parker Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on the 1/4 & 3/4 Hr.   09
1021.8 Flagler Bascule Bridge 17’ Opens on the 1/4 & 3/4 Hr.   09
1022.6 Royal Park Bascule Bridge 14’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1024.7 Southern Blvd. Bascule Bridge 14’ Opens on the 1/4 Hr. & 3/4 Hr.   09
1028.8 Lake Worth Bascule Bridge 35’ Opens on Demand   09
1031.0 Lantana Ave. Bascule Bridge 13’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1035.0 Boynton Beach Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1035.8 15th St. Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on Demand   09
1038.7 George Bush Bascule Bridge 9’ Opens on Demand   09
1039.6 Atlantic Ave. Bascule Bridge 12’ Opens on the 1/4 & 3/4 Hr.   09
1041.1 Linton Ave. Bascule Bridge 30’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1044.9 Spanish River Blvd. Bascule Bridge 21’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1047.5 Palmetto Park Bascule Bridge 20’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1048.2 Camino Real Bascule Bridge 9’ Opens on the Hr. & every 20 minutes thereafter.   09
1050.0 Hillsboro Blvd. Bascule Bridge 21’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1055.0 14th St. Bascule Bridge 15’ Opens on the 1/4 & 3/4 Hr.   09
1056.0 Atlantic Blvd. Bascule Bridge 15’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1059.0 Commercial Blvd. Bascule Bridge 15’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1060.6 Oakland Park Bascule Bridge 22’ Opens on the 1/4 & 3/4 Hr.   09
1062.6 Sunrise Blvd. Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr. On the first weekend in May, the draw need not open from 1600-1800 on Saturday and Sunday, and, on the first Saturday in May, the draw need not open from 2145-2245 09
1064.0 Las Olas Blvd. Bascule Bridge 31’ Opens on the 1/4 & 3/4 Hr. On the first weekend in May, the draw need not open from 1600-1800 on Saturday and Sunday, and, on the first Saturday in May, the draw need not open from 2145-2245 09
1065.9 SE 17th Street (Brooks Memorial) Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1069.4 Dania Beach Blvd. Bascule bridge 22’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1070.5 Sheridan Street Bascule Bridge 22’ Opens on the 1/4 & 3/4 Hr.   09
1072.2 Hollywood Beach Blvd. Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr.   09
1074.0 Hallandale Beach Blvd. Bascule Bridge 22’ Opens on the 1/4 & 3/4 Hr.   09
1078.0 163rd St. (Sunny Isles) Bascule Bridge 36’ M-F 0700-1800, weekends & holidays 1000-1800, opens on the 1/4 and 3/4 Hr., other times on demand   09
1081.4 Broad Causeway Bascule Bridge 16’ 0800 - 1800 Opens on the 1/4 & 3/4 Hr. other times on demand.   09
1084.6 79th St. Causeway Bascule Bridge 25’ Opens on Demand   09
1087.0 Julia Tuttle Causeway Bridge 55’ Fixed Bridge    
1088.6 Venetian Causeway Bascule Bridge 12’ M-F 0700 - 1900 Xcpt Fed. Holidays opens on the Hr. & 1/2 Hr. other times on demand.   09
1089.4 Dodge Island RR Bascule Bridge 22’ Usually Open Closes for RR Traffic 09