At the south end of Florida’s Historic Coast, tucked between the traditional tourist attractions of St. Augustine and Matanzas Inlet, one can find a beautiful stretch of quiet shoreline. Its sweeping white sand coastline carves out a large “C” where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, giving the small community its name: Crescent Beach. Located in a mostly residential area, slightly off the beaten path, locals appreciate the lack of tourist congestion compared to surrounding beaches. The beachfront park, fishing pier, dune crossovers, restaurants and shops provide ample entertainment with convenient parking nearby. It is truly the perfect location for a peaceful escape.

In 2019, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) began a bridge rehabilitation project on the Crescent Beach Bridge over the Matanzas River. The scheduled maintenance included corrosion protection, concrete repair and replacement of the fishing pier underneath the bridge structure. The fishing pier remained closed throughout the construction; however, bridge lane closures were not allowed from 7am to 8pm. This was necessary to minimize traffic impacts because the bridge connects Crescent Beach to the mainland.

The improved fishing pier is a main attraction at Crescent Beach. Situated under the 206 drawbridge, visitors can watch the opening and closing of the bridge from a completely new angle, underneath the bridge itself. Angling enthusiasts gain access to exceptional fishing from the Matanza River targeting trout, redfish, flounder, sheepshead and black drum. The bridge overhead offers the unique ability to shelter anglers and pedestrians from the intense rays of the sun so they can enjoy fishing or relaxing all day long.

Prior to beginning this rehabilitation project, the FDOT specified corrosion protection as a primary deliverable. Familiar with the corrosivity of the saline environment, state highway officials communicated the importance of a protective coating system to the project engineer, contractor and fabricator. Hot-dip galvanizing was ultimately selected for its proven, durable, long-lasting protection as well as the cost-effective solution compared to other options with low maintenance required after installation. The biggest challenge in this project was designing and detailing the tubular truss sections so they could be safely and efficiently dipped at the galvanizing facility. The pier truss spans were designed to be prefabricated prior to shipping to the galvanizer and finally to the job site for field installation. Planning and coordination with the galvanizer throughout the design process was key to overcoming the challenges of galvanizing the prefabricated tubular structure.

Now open to the public, the new Crescent Beach Fishing Pier is once again a primary attraction in this quiet beach town. Thanks to the protective qualities of hot-dip galvanizing, the pier will stand strong through multiple generations of family vacations, making its long-lasting presence known through memories and pictures.