Near Sanford in Seminole County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)

George C. Means Memorial Bridge

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 24, 2015

1. George C. Means Memorial Bridge Marker

Inscription.
Crossing the St. Johns River at Lake Jesup impacted both travelers and the environment over the years. Prior to 1900, people and goods were almost exclusively transported on the St. Johns by steamboat, with several large wharves around Lake Jesup being served. Competition from the new roads and railroads gradually led to a decline in steamboat traffic. In 1911, Congress passed an act that protected navigation on Lake Jesup. A ferry served the Geneva to Sanford road north of the current bridge. Around 1915 the road was bricked and made 8 feet wide. In 1920 the river's channel was dredged between Lake Harney and Lake Monroe, still passing around the oxbow within Lake Jesup. The first bridge was constructed in 1927, limiting navigation to passing under the turnstile drawbridge. SR 46 was widened in 1946 and a bypass channel was dug; the draw- (Continued on other side) Reverse: (Continued from other side) bridge was replaced with a low fixed concrete span over one channel with the rest of the length across the floodplain filled with a dirt causeway. The flow of water was negatively impacted and Lake Jesup's health

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declined. The community rallied and requested a more environmentally sound structure. The current bridge was completed in 2010 by the FDOT spanning the area where the old causeway existed, restoring the wetlands and eliminating pollutants from former fish camps and the old roadway. The new bridge was dedicated by the 2006 Legislature as the George C. Means Memorial Bridge. Means was a Lake Jesup activist and lifelong proponent for construction of the new bridge to restore the hydraulic exchange between the river and lake. The 3,740 foot structure that bears his name accomplished this and more by being engineered for the environment.

Erected by Seminole County Historical Commission.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Bridges & Viaducts • Environment.

Location. 28° 47.221′ N, 81° 10.986′ W. Marker is near Sanford, Florida, in Seminole County. It is on Old Geneva Road north of State Road 46, on the right when traveling east. Marker is at the western approach to the bridge. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Sanford FL 32771, United

George C. Means Memorial Bridge Marker reverse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 24, 2015

2. George C. Means Memorial Bridge Marker reverse

States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Orlando

and in Central Florida.

It is also in the American South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Midway/Canaan City (approx. 2.9 miles away); Ramey Field (approx. 3.6 miles away); NAS Sanford/City of Sanford (approx. 3.6 miles away); RVAH 12 Speartips (approx. 3.6 miles away); The North American RA-5C Vigilante (approx. 3.6 miles away); U.S. Navy Enlisted Bombardier / Navigator (approx. 3.7 miles away); Naval Air Station - Sanford (approx. 3.7 miles away); Seminole County (approx. 3.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sanford.

George C. Means Memorial Bridge Marker view looking west image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Fillmon, December 24, 2015

3. George C. Means Memorial Bridge Marker view looking west

Credits. This page was last revised on July 12, 2018. It was originally submitted on March 15, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,394 times since then and 100 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 15, 2016, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.