Oakland Park Bridge

The Oakland Park drawbridge, like most of the Fort Lauderdale drawbridges is basically one of bascule design consisting of two counterweighted leaves or spans which pivot upward on a horizontal axis to allow boat traffic to pass underneath. It has a set schedule of openings as well making nonscheduled openings for commercial marine traffic. The bridge tender may be contacted VHF marine radio on channel 9.
As Lauderdale drawbridges go this one is worthy of some note as a matter of «local flavor.» Though I’ve been over it a number of times, I’ve been on the waterways underneath it a lot more. When closed it is one of the drawbridges having better clearance being about 22 feet at mean tide level and is one of the few bridges with a roadway underneath it located on its east side. The east side of the bridge is a noted local area fishing hole which I’ve tried myself and have caught some good size mutton snapper using shrimp bait, but oddly never a red, yellowtail or mangrove. I’ve also fished the buttress areas located on the west side of the bridge, but have never had any luck on that side.
As with most other Fort Lauderdale bridges, the structural piers are surrounded by a wood, which I think are intended to act as guardrails protecting the piers of the bridge from floating tidal debris, flotsam or being struck by boats. Underwater the wooden barriers also encourage fish by acting as safe havens and above water serve as sunning areas for iguanas, the scene of which often attracts a good number of camera toting tourists.

Great pitch on this bridge for bikes to and from A1A, and 22 ft. clearance for boats underneath. Fishing the pilings is intermittent at best, but overall is a great bridge.