NE 79th St West Bridge

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Live status of NE 79th St West 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
2.9
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 117.261(gg)

Monthly opening statistics — June 2026

Openings
86
Avg per day
2.9
Avg duration
6.8 min
Time with span up
1.4%
Weekday avg/day
3
Weekend avg/day
2.5

Openings by hour of day (ET)

00:00 — 101:00 — 102:00 — 003:00 — 004:00 — 105:00 — 106:00 — 107:00 — 008:00 — 109:00 — 210:00 — 211:00 — 912:00 — 1213:00 — 1014:00 — 515:00 — 516:00 — 517:00 — 318:00 — 719:00 — 720:00 — 621:00 — 322:00 — 323:00 — 100:0006:0012:0018:00

Based on 30 days with FL511 data in June 2026.

Vessel traffic — June 2026

AIS vessels observed at openings
15

By vessel type

  • Recreational
    10
  • Towing / tug
    0
  • Passenger
    5
  • Cargo / tanker
    0
  • Other / unknown
    0

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

About the bridge

The West 79th Street Bridge is the inland of the two drawbridges on the John F. Kennedy Causeway (State Road 934), carrying traffic over the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway between the City of Miami and North Bay Village. The current double-leaf bascule spans date to 1972 and are owned by the Florida Department of Transportation. In 2023, at the request of North Bay Village and to ease vehicle congestion on the causeway, the Coast Guard limited the bridge to once-an-hour openings during weekday peak periods.

Physical characteristics

Vertical clearance, closed (MHW) 21 ft
Bridge type double-leaf bascule
Year built 1972
Owner Florida DOT (FDOT)
VHF channel (bridge tender) Ch 9

Road traffic

Annual average daily traffic (AADT): 44,500

Source: FDOT Florida Traffic Online, station 870142, 2025

Frequently asked questions

Is NE 79th St West Bridge open right now?
NE 79th St West 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 West Bridge open?
In June 2026, NE 79th St West Bridge opened 86 times — about 2.9 openings per day, with an average opening lasting 6.8 minutes.
What is the opening schedule for NE 79th St West 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 West 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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