NE 79th St East Bridge

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Live status of NE 79th St East Bridge updates in real time in the IsBridgeUp app; typical patterns are below.

Vertical clearance (closed)
21 ft
Schedule
Timed openings + curfews
Avg openings/day
1.8
last full month

Opening schedule

Monday through Friday (except federal holidays), the draw opens only on the hour from 7:00–10:00 AM, on the hour and half-hour from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, and on the hour from 4:00–7:00 PM; from 7:00 PM–7:00 AM it opens on signal. On weekends and federal holidays it opens on signal.

Regulation: 33 CFR 117.304

Monthly opening statistics — June 2026

Openings
51
Avg per day
1.8
Avg duration
8.7 min
Time with span up
1.1%
Weekday avg/day
1.6
Weekend avg/day
2.6

Openings by hour of day (ET)

00:00 — 001:00 — 002:00 — 003:00 — 004:00 — 005:00 — 006:00 — 007:00 — 108:00 — 209:00 — 210:00 — 611:00 — 212:00 — 513:00 — 614:00 — 515:00 — 216:00 — 317:00 — 318:00 — 319:00 — 320:00 — 621:00 — 222:00 — 023:00 — 000:0006:0012:0018:00

Based on 28 days with FL511 data in June 2026.

Vessel traffic — June 2026

AIS vessels observed at openings
2

By vessel type

  • Recreational
    2
  • Towing / tug
    0
  • Passenger
    0
  • Cargo / tanker
    0
  • Other / unknown
    0

Counts include AIS-broadcasting vessels only; actual vessel traffic is higher.

About the bridge

The East 79th Street Bridge is the seaward of the two drawbridges on the John F. Kennedy Causeway (State Road 934), crossing the Miami Beach Channel toward Miami Beach. The current double-leaf bascule spans date to 1973 and are owned by the Florida Department of Transportation. In 2023 the Coast Guard placed it, together with its companion West 79th Street Bridge, on once-an-hour openings during weekday peak periods to reduce causeway traffic congestion.

Physical characteristics

Vertical clearance, closed (MHW) 21 ft
Bridge type double-leaf bascule
Year built 1973
Owner Florida DOT (FDOT)
VHF channel (bridge tender) Ch 9

Road traffic

Annual average daily traffic (AADT): 44,000

Source: FDOT Florida Traffic Online, station 870533, 2025

Frequently asked questions

Is NE 79th St East Bridge open right now?
NE 79th St East Bridge opens and closes for vessel traffic throughout the day. Live status is available on this page and updates in real time in the IsBridgeUp app.
How often does NE 79th St East Bridge open?
In June 2026, NE 79th St East Bridge opened 51 times — about 1.8 openings per day, with an average opening lasting 8.7 minutes.
What is the opening schedule for NE 79th St East Bridge?
Monday through Friday (except federal holidays), the draw opens only on the hour from 7:00–10:00 AM, on the hour and half-hour from 10:00 AM–4:00 PM, and on the hour from 4:00–7:00 PM; from 7:00 PM–7:00 AM it opens on signal. On weekends and federal holidays it opens on signal.
What is the vertical clearance of NE 79th St East Bridge?
The vertical clearance in the closed position is approximately 21 ft at mean high water. Vessels requiring more clearance need an opening.
Do I need to request an opening?
Vessels that cannot pass under the closed span signal the bridge tender for an opening, as provided by US Coast Guard drawbridge regulations (33 CFR Part 117).

Know before you go

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