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The Albert W. Gilchrist Bridge is a bridge in
The Gilchrist Bridge opened for traffic on July 4, 1976. It was built to make U.S. 41 a four lane highway over the Peace River.
When the Gilchrist Bridge opened, the original Barron Collier Bridge was still in service, which was a low-level drawbridge. It carried one lane in each direction prior to the Gilchrist Bridge's completion, and then carried two lanes of northbound traffic afterward. The Gilchrist Bridge lands at Cross Street in Punta Gorda, which was a couple of blocks west of King Street (where the Barron Collier Bridge lands). As a result, US 41 is carried on two one-way streets through Punta Gorda.
The current Barron Collier Bridge was then built in 1983, eliminating the need for the drawbridge which continued to disrupt northbound traffic. The current Barron Collier Bridge was built right next to the original, and is identical to the Gilchrist Bridge.
Albert W. Gilchrist was not the only name considered for the southbound bridge at the time of its construction. Naming the bridge after
, upstream =
, downstream = Charlotte Harbor , downstream signs = Road bridges in Florida U.S. Route 41 Punta Gorda, Florida Transportation buildings and structures in Charlotte County, Florida Concrete bridges in Florida Girder bridges in the United States Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System Bridges completed in 1976
Charlotte County, Florida
Charlotte County is a U.S. county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 186,847. Its county seat is Punta Gorda.
Charlotte County comprises the Punta Gorda, FL Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is ...
crossing the Peace River
The Peace River (french: links=no, rivière de la Paix) is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River joins the Athabasca River in th ...
between Port Charlotte, Florida
Port Charlotte is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Charlotte County, Florida, United States. The population was 54,392 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Punta Gorda, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Port C ...
and Punta Gorda, Florida
, nickname =
, settlement_type = City
, motto =
, image_skyline = Punta Gorda City Hall.jpg
, imagesize = 250px
, image_caption = Punta Gorda City Hall
, image_fla ...
. The two-lane 45-foot-tall structure carries the southbound lanes of U.S. Route 41 (Tamiami Trail
The Tamiami Trail () is the southernmost of U.S. Highway 41 (US 41) from State Road 60 (SR 60) in Tampa to US 1 in Miami. A portion of the road also has the hidden designation of State Road 90 (SR 90).
The north†...
). US 41's northbound lanes are carried over the river on the adjacent Barron Collier Bridge
The Barron Collier Bridge is a bridge in Charlotte County, Florida that crosses the Peace River (Florida), Peace River connecting Punta Gorda, Florida and Port Charlotte, Florida. It is 45 feet tall and carries two northbound lanes of U.S. Route ...
. It was named for former Florida Governor
The governor of Florida is the head of government of the state of Florida and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Florida ...
Albert W. Gilchrist, who resided in Punta Gorda.
History
The Gilchrist Bridge opened for traffic on July 4, 1976. It was built to make U.S. 41 a four lane highway over the Peace River.
When the Gilchrist Bridge opened, the original Barron Collier Bridge was still in service, which was a low-level drawbridge. It carried one lane in each direction prior to the Gilchrist Bridge's completion, and then carried two lanes of northbound traffic afterward. The Gilchrist Bridge lands at Cross Street in Punta Gorda, which was a couple of blocks west of King Street (where the Barron Collier Bridge lands). As a result, US 41 is carried on two one-way streets through Punta Gorda.
The current Barron Collier Bridge was then built in 1983, eliminating the need for the drawbridge which continued to disrupt northbound traffic. The current Barron Collier Bridge was built right next to the original, and is identical to the Gilchrist Bridge.
Albert W. Gilchrist was not the only name considered for the southbound bridge at the time of its construction. Naming the bridge after Juan Ponce de León
Juan Ponce de León (, , , ; 1474 – July 1521) was a Spanish explorer and '' conquistador'' known for leading the first official European expedition to Florida and for serving as the first governor of Puerto Rico. He was born in Santervá ...
was suggested at one point, as well as for Phil Laishley, a former Punta Gorda mayor. "Bicentennial Bridge" was another suggested name due to the bridge opening on July 4th, 1976, the bicentennial anniversary of the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. Ultimately, Gilchrist was selected to be the bridge's namesake since he is a significant figure in area's history.
See also
* * *References
{{Crossings navbox , structure = Crossings , place =Peace River
The Peace River (french: links=no, rivière de la Paix) is a river in Canada that originates in the Rocky Mountains of northern British Columbia and flows to the northeast through northern Alberta. The Peace River joins the Athabasca River in th ...
, bridge = Gilchrist Bridge
, bridge signs = , upstream =
Barron Collier Bridge
The Barron Collier Bridge is a bridge in Charlotte County, Florida that crosses the Peace River (Florida), Peace River connecting Punta Gorda, Florida and Port Charlotte, Florida. It is 45 feet tall and carries two northbound lanes of U.S. Route ...
, upstream signs = , downstream = Charlotte Harbor , downstream signs = Road bridges in Florida U.S. Route 41 Punta Gorda, Florida Transportation buildings and structures in Charlotte County, Florida Concrete bridges in Florida Girder bridges in the United States Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System Bridges completed in 1976