The Francis P. Whitehair Bridge, also known as the Crows Bluff Bridge, was a double leaf bascule bridge located in Crows Bluff, Florida that carried State Road 44 over the St. Johns River.
The original bridge on the site was constructed in 1917; replaced in 1955, and though it was previously expected to remain in service until the 2050s,[1] a new version of the bridge opened in September of 2023.
[4] In 1954, a plan for construction of a replacement bridge was established;[5] the new bridge, dedicated to DeLand resident Francis P. Whitehair, opened on September 22, 1955.
[6] In the late 1980s and early 1990s the bridge was closed several times for repairs.
[7][8][9] A 1993 truck accident damaged the bridge, requiring repairs to its guardrails.