Fort Gates Ferry over St. Johns River
Putnam County, Florida · rated Poor in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory
United States Bridge Conditions2025 National Bridge Inventory, FHWACompiled
- Fort Gates Ferry over St. Johns River in Putnam County, Florida, is rated in poor condition in the 2025 National Bridge Inventory (as of ).
- Its lowest-rated component is the deck, rated 3 (serious condition) on the 0-9 scale.
- It was built in 1960 and reconstructed in 1985, making it 65 years old at the 2025 inventory.
- It carries about 11 vehicles a day (traffic count year 2017).
- Its listed owner is the county highway agency.
- It is one of 2 of the 73 inventoried bridges in Putnam County rated poor (2.7%); 2 (2.7%) are rated poor.
- Its traffic status in the 2025 inventory is closed to all traffic (NBI item 41).
- Its condition class and component ratings are unchanged from the 2024 inventory.
- Its most recent inspection on record is dated February 2025, on a 24-month routine inspection cycle.
- A poor rating means at least one major component - deck, superstructure, or substructure - is rated 4 or lower on FHWA's 0-9 scale. It does not by itself mean the bridge is unsafe; bridges judged unsafe are closed or load-restricted by their owners.
View this bridge on a map → (29.42528, -81.66611)
Component ratings
| Component | Rating (2024) | Rating (2025) | FHWA scale meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Deck | 3 | 3 | Serious condition |
| Superstructure | 4 | 4 | Poor condition |
| Substructure | 6 | 6 | Satisfactory condition |
Bridge details
| Structure | Timber stringer or multi-beam girder |
| Length | about 33 ft |
| Location | W Bank of St Johns River |
| NBI structure number | 764043 |
| Condition class | Poor |
| Traffic status (item 41) | Closed to all traffic |
| Last inspection (item 90) | February 2025 |
| Inspection interval (item 91) | 24 months |
| Scour (item 113) | 8: foundations stable, scour above the top of the footing |
Source: FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2025 data as reported by the Florida department of transportation.
Busiest bridges in Putnam County
| Bridge | Built | Vehicles/day | Condition |
|---|---|---|---|
| US 17 (SR 15) over St Johns River | 1977 | 35,000 | Fair |
| US-17 (SR-15) over Satsuma Creek | 1952 | 19,972 | Fair |
| SR-207 over Orange Mills Canal | 2001 | 18,200 | Good |
| SR-207 over Dog Branch | 2001 | 18,200 | Fair |
| SR-20 over Sweetwater Creek | 2000 | 11,964 | Fair |
| US-17 (SR-15) over Pinetree Branch | 1993 | 10,600 | Good |
All bridges nearby: Putnam County, FL bridge conditions · every bridge in Putnam County · Florida bridges.
Background: how bridge ratings work · what "poor" and "structurally deficient" actually mean · how often bridges are inspected.