The Matlacha Pass Bridge (pronounced "Mat-La-Shay") is a small single-leaf drawbridge located in Matlacha, Florida. It carries County Road 78 (Pine Island Road) over Matlacha Pass, connecting Pine Island with the mainland in Cape Coral.
The first bridge spanning Matlacha Pass was a small wooden swing bridge. The first bridge's swing span was a recycled span that had previously been used on the Alva Bridge. The first bridge was built largely in part to the influence of Pine Island resident Harry Stringfellow, who served as a county commissioner from 1926 to 1953.
The first bridge was replaced with a concrete bascule bridge in 1968. The bridge became a very popular fishing spot for local residents, and was nicknamed "The fishingest bridge in the world". The current bascule bridge opened on November 18, 2012, until it was destroyed less than a decade later as a result of Hurricane Ian. The current span prior to its collapse was 9 feet tall, similar to its predecessor.
After its demolition, the previous bridge (the one built in 1968) was made into an artificial reef at Novak's reef, which is about 3 miles off the coast of Charlotte County. In the wake of Hurricane Ian, a temporary bridge was quickly constructed and opened to traffic in October 2022.
References
Bridges completed in 1927
Bascule bridges in the United States
Road bridges in Florida
1927 establishments in Florida
Concrete bridges in the United States
Bridges in Lee County, Florida
Pine Island (Lee County, Florida)