North Causeway Bridge in Fort Pierce, Florida, is currently under construction and will soon bring congestion relief to boaters and motorists. The old draw bridge, built in 1963, is structurally deficient and needs major remodifications. When the new bridge is completed, it will eliminate delays for motorists waiting for the bridge to open and close. Boaters also will benefit from free water access and not having to wait for bridge openings. Soaring 85' (ft) over the water, the new bridge will boast a whopping 60' (ft) increase over the current 25' (ft) clearance available in the old bridge. The final structure will also be 4,152' (ft) long (about half the height of Mount St. Helens) and is expected to cost $111 million with a completion date of late 2027.

Vecellio & Grogan Inc, who specialize in heavy/highway, bridge and structures operating in the mid-Atlantic and southeast United States, is the contractor awarded the job of completing the North Causeway Bridge. For this project Vecellio & Grogan (V&G) will install 347 concrete piles, each weighing between 22 and 47 tons, and will be utilizing an ICE® 44B Vibratory Hammer mounted to a Liebherr model LR1300 330-ton crane with a 170-ft. boom to install them. The ICE® 44B will also be used to drive sheet piles to create a cofferdam system that will allow safe and dry working conditions for the V&G crew. Interestingly, portions of the old draw bridge will be material for environmental benefit by utilizing them to bolster an existing artificial reef about 4 miles northeast of the Fort Pierce inlet. This addition to the reef will benefit all types of local sea creatures such as crabs, fish and the native coral that is imperative to the area's wildlife. 

Not only will the new North Causeway Bridge benefit motorists, boaters and local marine-life, but it will benefit pedestrian traffic as well. Both sides of the bridge will have a new 8' (ft) shoulder which will include bike lanes and sidewalks for safe and easy access across the bridge providing stunning views of the inter-coastal waterway and the Fort Pierce area.

International Construction Equipment, Inc (ICE®) is delighted to be a part of the North Causeway Bridge project and applauds the entire Vecellio & Grogan Inc. team for their dedication to efficiency and safety. Once this innovative high-level fixed span bridge is completed, it will enhance the traffic flow both underneath and across the bridge providing an easier and safer connection for all who traverse it.  

Learn More about the ICE® 44B

Media Contact-       
Pollyanna Cunningham, MA, MBA       
Vice President 
 ICE® - International Construction Equipment, Inc    
 The Hose Company   
 Office - 704-821-8200       
 Email - marketing@iceusa.com  / info@hydraulichose.com