ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – St. Augustine city leaders will consider an agreement on Monday with the Florida Department of Transportation to have the two iconic Medici lion statues on the Bridge of Lions removed temporarily to the tune of $100,000.
It’s part of a multi-million dollar project to replace the seawall along the Matanzas River.
Right now, the seawalls at Castillo de San Marcos sit at the lowest elevation in the city’s seawall system, making one of the oldest landmarks in the country prone to flooding during storms.
The seawalls are made from coquina stone, which is a special kind of rock made mostly from tiny seashells. It was a local material and perfect for building the fort because it’s durable and could even absorb cannon fire back in the day.
But coquina is also soft and porous, so over time it’s been worn down by waves, saltwater, and harsh weather.
Over the years, the seawalls have been beaten up during hurricanes, with water rushing over the seawall, like with Ian in 2022. Downtown St. Augustine saw a 3- to 5-foot storm surge during the height of that storm and around 10 to 20 inches of rain.
The National Park Service has a plan to raise and reinforce the seawalls to make them taller and stronger, so they can withstand future storms and rising sea levels.
The goal is to protect the historic fort and reduce flood risks in downtown St. Augustine.
The NPS recently completed an environmental assessment that confirmed the seawall’s deterioration and flood risk -- pushing its urgent need for an upgrade. You can view the full report on the NPS website.
Starting Monday, you can share your thoughts on the seawall project downtown. You have until July 9 to add your comment.
As for the lion statues on the bridge, if the agreement to remove the lions is approved, they would be taken off the bridge by Jan. 31, 2026, and reinstalled by Dec. 31, 2028.
The city would be responsible for storing and maintaining the lions while they are away from the bridge.
FDOT will also refurbish the concrete pedestals they are sitting on.
The St. Augustine City Commission is expected to vote to approve the agreement with FDOT to remove the lions during its next meeting, which is being held at 5 p.m. Monday inside City Hall.
FDOT plans to have another public meeting to go over the seawall replacement project sometime in December. a
