Frequently Asked Questions

Doesn't Port St Lucie have a right to go to the beach?Yes! They will soon have a widened US1, a brand new Jensen Beach Bridge (with no toll or drawbridge) and a Green River Parkway from Walton Road south to Jensen Beach Boulevard. They will have a widened Port St. Lucie Boulevard that will be faster than taking Midport to Walton Road.

Won't the river be back to normal in a few months?No! The Indian River Lagoon and National Estuary is a precious, fragile ecosystem. It already suffers from the effects of mankind's tampering with natural drainage patterns and has suffered severe impacts from the freshwater directed into it during the unusually wet year of 1998. This bridge would lead to increased stagnation in Herman's Bay, could jeopardize the chances of recovery from similar occurrences in the future and would permanently destroy grassflats that provide nursery grounds for our gamefish and food for our endangered manatees.

Wouldn't paying for the bridge with a toll make it a good deal for the people of our county?No! Financial studies reported that the tolls would only cover $28 million of the $48 million price tag. The remainder would come from the state Revolving Trust Fund (your tax dollars), and would mean less to go around for projects that we really need.

Wouldn't the Savannas benefit from improved water flow if they take out the existing causeway?No! The Savannas State Reserve is a natural wetland area that drains to the west through two or three canal systems. The "flow" is generally determined by which end of the sixteen mile ecosystem gets rain and is so slow that the existing culverts under Walton Road are adequate. The problem with putting the bridge over the Savannas is that now you can explore the Savannas without seeing any sign of the large population that lives so close. With a fifteen foot high bridge across the Savannas, that effect and the value it has for our ecotourism would be lost.

Why would the Expressway Authority build a bridge if it would create all of these problems? The Engineering firm has some of the best salespeople in the world and the Expressway Authority has (except for one very discerning man)believed everything they have been told. The engineering firm showed comparable bridges built elsewhere in the state. Figg said that the Mid-Bay Bridge in the Florida Panhandle was built for $44 million - not true. The Northwest Florida Daily News reported the price at $80 Million. The engineers said that the controversial Garcon Point Bridge (also known as Bo's Bridge) was built for $54 million when the same paper said it actually cost $95 million.
The Expressway Authority members have not done their homework.
Garcon and Mid-Bay bridges were built over deep waters that weren't susceptible to damage from tugs and barges. They were both built in wealthy counties.
Eglin Air Force Base lies between the bridgesand pumps millions of federal dollars into the local economies. The bridges were both built with the help of gas tax dollars that our county commission has barred from being spent on the Walton Bridge.

Who stands to profit? Those who would stand to gain from this bridge are the developers, builders and engineers, the local politicians and their parties who would stand in line for campaign contributions from those developers, builders and engineers. The City Commissioners of Port St. Lucie would gain a link to Hutchinson Island where the population fears annexation and the resulting increases in taxes it would bring.

Who stands to lose? The loss that this bridge would bring upon the people of this country goes far beyond the borders of Walton, Port St. Lucie, St. Lucie County or even the State of Florida. The Indian River Lagoon National Estuary is a national treasure on the Treasure Coast. It has been identified as the most diverse estuary in North America and scientists have recently indicated it may be the most diverse estuary in the world. The loss of Herman's Bay, one of the widest parts of the lagoon, and its fish, grassflats and manatees would be a loss for every American. Johnson's seagrass is found no where else in the world but along this coast and the loss of that species in Herman's Bay could jeopardize its ability to survive if natural disaster struck where it is found to the north or south.
The people of Florida stand to lose the pristine nature of the 5,000 acre Savannas State Reserve and the potential it holds to enrich our ecotourism industry.
The people of St. Lucie County stand to suffer an even greater burden. Previous annexations in the county came with zoning changes that lowered standards by increasing density(i.e. along Indian River Drive).
The people of Port St. Lucie stand to lose by being the only people on the coast who must pay a toll to go to the beach. They will also lose as city revenue that could provide safety and needed infrastructure is lost to defend this wasteful boondoggle.
Finally, the wildlife of our rich and diverse ecosystem would lose. Manatees and sea turtles that forage on the seagrass would stand to lose as would gamefish and the fishermen who take such care to preserve the resource. Sea turtles that nest on Hutchinson Island, the most active hatchery on the Atlantic Coast could be drawn to the lights of the new high bridge, away from the relative safety of the ocean.