JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There are nine bridges in the Jacksonville area, which means someone is always crossing over one of the region’s many waterways.
As Hurricane Milton approaches Florida, questions and assumptions about whether those bridges will close or remain open have continuously poured into the News4JAX newsroom.
Here’s the information you need to know about bridge closures in the Jacksonville area.
The standard for bridge closures is usually reached when sustained winds hit 40 mph or above for one consecutive minute or more.
As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, Hurricane Milton was packing sustained winds of 130 mph with higher gusts, a lower-level Category 4. Its position was about 150 miles southwest of Tampa.
Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 35 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 250 miles.
Related: Hurricane Milton Track Updates, Closures, Evacuations & More | Know Your Zone & Flood Risk | Interactive Tropics Map
In Jacksonville, the decision to close bridges is made by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) in coordination with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The agencies will monitor wind speeds and decide to close bridges if high winds make travel unsafe.
However, those decisions will most likely not be made until the city begins to feel Hurricane Milton’s impact, but it is possible, looking at the models as of Wednesday afternoon. If bridges are closed, News4JAX will notify the community on-air, online, on News4JAX+, and social media.
What we know about Hurricane Milton
WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected in the hurricane warning area across Florida beginning this evening through early Thursday and are possible in the hurricane watch area on Thursday. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in the warning area on the west coast of Florida around midday, spreading across the peninsula and reaching the east coast tonight. Tropical storm conditions are expected to begin in the warning area on the east coast of Florida tonight and along the Georgia coast on Thursday.
- Tropical storm force winds are at a minimum of 39 mph, sustained for at least 60 seconds and up to 73 mph. Anything above 73 mph is considered hurricane-force winds. Arrival time for winds could start as soon as late Wednesday evening and early Thursday morning.
Residents are urged to follow orders from local officials during this extremely serious threat to Florida.
There is always potential for wind speed changes as Hurricane Milton evolves. Follow News4Jax’s coverage of the storm on Channel 4, News4JAX.com, and News4JAX+. Also, make sure you download the News4JAX Weather and Hurricane Apps.