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Great Loop planning reference

Great Loop Bridge Library

Search Great Loop bridge planning records by route segment, waterway, state, bridge type, drawbridge status, contact details, coordinates, and source-backed verification notes.

136Public planning records
8Route segments
49Waterways
0Rows missing coordinates

Planning a route with bridges?

Check bridge clearance, drawbridge details, and route timing before departure. Create a free float plan for your trip.

Great Loop Locks Boat Fuel Calculator Why use a float plan? Clearance basics Drawbridge planning
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Bridge Map

Showing 10 featured bridges. Use search or filters to explore the full library.

Mid-Hudson Bridge

Hudson River - Chesapeake / Hudson / Great Lakes

Poughkeepsie, NY - MM Hudson River

Fixed suspension - 134.00 ft closed

Fixed bridge

Bridge E-93 railroad bridge

Erie Canal - New York Canals

Lyons / Clyde, NY - MM Between Lock E-26 Clyde and Lock E-27 Lyons

Railroad bridge - 15.43 ft closed

Great Loop lowest unavoidable fixed bridge

Illinois Waterway / Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal - Route-wide

Lemont / Chicago area, IL - MM MM 300.5 / 300.6

Fixed/swing railroad bridge (does not open) - 19.70 ft closed

Fixed bridge

Pinellas Bayway Bridge C

GIWW / Boca Ciega Bay - Florida Gulf Coast

St. Petersburg, FL - MM Pinellas Bayway

Fixed - 65.00 ft closed

Fixed bridge

Socastee Swing Bridge

Atlantic ICW - Atlantic ICW

Socastee, SC - MM MM 371.0

Swing - 11.00 ft closed

Drawbridge

CWI Railroad Bridge

Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal - Illinois / Chicago

Chicago, IL - MM RM 317.5

Swing railroad / does not open - 18.60 ft closed

Fixed bridge

Tom Adams Bridge

GIWW - Florida Gulf Coast

Englewood, FL - MM MM 43.5

Bascule - 26.00 ft closed

Drawbridge

Browse by Waterway

Atlantic ICW (18) Atlantic ICW / Albemarle & Chesapeake Canal (1) Atlantic ICW / Alligator River (1) Atlantic ICW / Beaufort Channel (2) Atlantic ICW / Beaufort River (1) Atlantic ICW / Bogue Sound (2) Atlantic ICW / Coinjock Canal (1) Atlantic ICW / Core Creek (1) Atlantic ICW / Elizabeth River (2) Atlantic ICW / Jekyll Creek (1) Atlantic ICW / Mackay River (1) Atlantic ICW / North Landing River (2) Atlantic ICW / Pungo River-Alligator River Canal (1) Atlantic ICW / Skidaway Narrows (1) Atlantic ICW / Southern Branch Elizabeth River (3) Atlantic ICW / Wilmington River (2) Calumet River (7) Calumet Sag Channel (4) Calumet Sag Channel / Little Calumet River (1) Chesapeake & Delaware Canal (3) Chesapeake Bay (1) Chicago River (4) Chicago River and South Branch Chicago River (1) Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal (9) Detroit River (1) Erie Canal (1) Erie Canal / Oswego Canal (1) GIWW (16) GIWW / Boca Ciega Bay (5) GIWW / Charlotte Harbor area (1) GIWW / Clearwater Harbor (1) GIWW / Indian Shores (1) GIWW / Johns Pass (1) GIWW / Madeira Beach (1) GIWW / St. Joseph Sound (1) Hudson River (6) Illinois River (10) Illinois Waterway / Chicago Sanitary & Ship Canal (1) Little Calumet River (1) Okeechobee Waterway (2) Okeechobee Waterway / Caloosahatchee Canal (1) Okeechobee Waterway / Caloosahatchee River (4) Okeechobee Waterway / Lake Okeechobee (2) Okeechobee Waterway / St. Lucie River (1) South Branch Chicago River (4) St. Clair River / Lake Huron (1) Straits of Mackinac (1) Tampa Bay / GIWW area (1) Trent-Severn Waterway (1)

1. Why Bridge Planning Matters

  • Avoid delays, groundings, and unsafe transits.
  • Save time and stress with verified information.
  • Plan with confidence using current data.

2. Fixed Bridges vs Drawbridges

  • Fixed bridges have set clearances.
  • Drawbridges open on schedules or on request.
  • Verify status and requirements before arrival.

3. Clearance & Air Draft

  • Clearance can change with water levels and conditions.
  • Compare your vessel air draft to current clearances.
  • Closed fields are planning references only.

4. Verify Openings Before Transit

  • Check opening schedules, restrictions, and notices.
  • Confirm with official charts, signage, and local updates.
  • Treat phone/VHF info as starting points, not final.

5. Contact & VHF Planning

  • Note bridge tenders and operator contacts.
  • Use VHF channels for requests and updates.
  • Have backups in case phone service is unavailable.

6. Timing, Water Levels & Restrictions

  • Water levels affect clearance and bridge operation.
  • Consider tides, currents, traffic, and daylight.
  • Watch for maintenance, weather, and local restrictions.

7. Bridge Planning Checklist

  • Compare air draft vs clearance
  • Verify bridge status & type
  • Check water levels & trends
  • Confirm schedules & openings
  • Note contacts & VHF channels
  • Plan timing & backup options

8. Quick Bridge FAQs

  • Can I rely on listed clearances? No, always verify current data.
  • What is an air-draft concern? When clearance is close to your vessel height.
  • Do schedules change? Yes, confirm before arrival.
Planning awareness only: Bridge information is provided for planning awareness only. Always verify current bridge status, clearance, water levels, bridge schedules, opening restrictions, Local Notices to Mariners, bridge signage, and official charts before transit. FloatPlanWizard is not a navigation authority.