JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – One of the biggest topics during bad weather is the closing of the bridges.
And while we usually talk about the bridges closing during tropical conditions, what about during freezing weather?
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Unlike using sustained wind speeds to determine a bridge closure, when icy conditions are introduced, bridges do indeed freeze before the roads.
As the air temperature drops below freezing the bridge is exposed to cold air both above and below the span and the cooling begins. And keep in mind, bridges are usually made of steel and concrete both of which don’t hold heat very well. Meanwhile, toads are made of asphalt which holds heat better, thus taking longer to freeze.
Bridges have no way to trap heat so they will ice over quicker as the temperature decreases to the freezing point and the term black ice is actually a thin “glaze” that forms on the roadways that you can’t see because the roads are black.
News4JAX reached out to Hampton Ray with the Florida Department of Transportation and he said the agency is closely monitoring potential winter weather conditions that may impact north Florida.
If conditions warrant, FDOT crews are ready to treat roadways as needed to prevent hazardous conditions and ensure safe travel. Ray encourages drivers to stay informed through FDOT’s FL-511 system for real-time updates.
Ray also confirmed that regardless of wind speeds or icy conditions, the Florida Highway Patrol is responsible for closing any bridges.