North Causeway Bridge construction in Fort Pierce is estimated to finish summer of 2026

The shadow of a eastbound truck (top right) is seen along with metal plates on the westbound lane of the existing North Causeway Bridge on Friday Sept. 15, 2023, in Fort Pierce.

Aerial photos of construction of the future North Causeway Bridge, Tuesday, Oct. 24, 2023, in Fort Pierce.

Bridge pillars and pylons for the new North Causeway Bridge project are seen looking westward from the North Causeway, A1A, on North Hutchinson Island, on Tuesday, Aug. 29, 2023, in Fort Pierce.

Bridge pillars and pylons for the new North Causeway Bridge are seen from the Indian RIver Lagoon on North Hutchinson Island, on Friday, Sept. 29, 2023, in Fort Pierce.

Construction workers with Vecellio & Grogan Inc. place a pillar through a jig for correct placement and alignment on Monday, June 5, 2023, for a new North Causeway Bridge being built in Fort Pierce. There will be 347 pillars, of different sizes, used in building the new bridge that will span above Old Dixie Highway to meet U.S.1 on the west. It will replace the current drawbridge built in 1963.

Problem areas are seen on April 26, 2023, at the North Causeway Bridge in Fort Pierce, also known as the D.H. "Banty" Saunders Bridge, designated by the 1965 Florida Legislature.

Problem areas are seen on April 26, 2023, at the North Causeway Bridge in Fort Pierce, also known as the D.H. "Banty" Saunders Bridge, designated by the 1965 Florida Legislature.

Construction workers with Vecellio & Grogan Inc. work on installing bridge pillars for a new North Causeway Bridge being built in Fort Pierce. The contractor will install 347 concrete pillars, of different sizes, weighing between 45,000 pounds and 94,000. The new bridge will span over the Indian River Lagoon and Old Dixie Highway to meet U.S.1 on the west side, replacing the current drawbridge built in 1963.

A drone captures work on the new North Causeway bridge in Fort Pierce on Feb. 24, 2024. There will be 347 pillars, of different sizes, used in building the new bridge that will span above Old Dixie Highway to meet U.S.1 on the west, according to Vecellio & Grogan Inc. whose workers placed pillars. The $111.5 million bridge is estimated to be done summer 2026. North Causeway Bridge It will replace the current drawbridge built in 1963, which is the D.H. "Banty" Saunders Bridge, designated by the 1965 Florida Legislature. David Howard Saunders was a state representative in the 1945 Legislature. He was a Fort Pierce City commissioner, and a lumberman for 40 years, according to the Miami News of March 7, 1945.

A drone captures work on the new North Causeway bridge in Fort Pierce on Feb. 24, 2024. There will be 347 pillars, of different sizes, used in building the new bridge that will span above Old Dixie Highway to meet U.S.1 on the west, according to Vecellio & Grogan Inc. whose workers placed pillars. The $111.5 million bridge is estimated to be done summer 2026. It will replace the current drawbridge built in 1963, which is the D.H. "Banty" Saunders Bridge, designated by the 1965 Florida Legislature. David Howard Saunders was a state representative in the 1945 Legislature. He was a Fort Pierce City commissioner, and a lumberman for 40 years, according to the Miami News of March 7, 1945.

A drone captures work on the new North Causeway bridge in Fort Pierce on Feb. 24, 2024. There will be 347 pillars, of different sizes, used in building the new bridge that will span above Old Dixie Highway to meet U.S.1 on the west, according to Vecellio & Grogan Inc. whose workers placed pillars. The $111.5 million bridge is estimated to be done summer 2026. It will replace the current drawbridge built in 1963, which is the D.H. "Banty" Saunders Bridge, designated by the 1965 Florida Legislature. David Howard Saunders was a state representative in the 1945 Legislature. He was a Fort Pierce City commissioner, and a lumberman for 40 years, according to the Miami News of March 7, 1945.