For Hometown News
The Veterans Memorial Bridge, also known as the Orange Avenue bridge, in Daytona Beach was closed to traffic last Friday because of the failure of one of the drawbridge's electrical control boxes.
A crew from Volusia County's Road and Bridge Division will open the bridge manually to permit boat traffic until the bridge is repaired.
The control box is scheduled to be replaced and programmed Monday, Dec. 10. In the meantime, motorists are encouraged to use the U.S. 92 bridge as an alternate route.
Veterans Memorial Bridge was built in 1954 and requires frequent repairs, according to County Engineer Jerry Brinton.
In January 2011, the Volusia County Council voted to replace the aging bridge with a high-rise fixed bridge that will include fishing piers, accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians, and a tribute to veterans.
The state Department of Transportation, which is funding the project with federal funds, has approved up to $48 million for the demolition of the existing bridge and the construction of the new high-rise bridge. Construction is expected to begin in September 2014 and will last about two years.