Photo Courtesy FDOT

The incident severely damaged a structural beam on the bridge's central span.

The Florida Dept. of Transportation scrambled to award an emergency contract for repairs to a downtown Jacksonville bridge after a U.S. Navy cargo ship struck the 60-year-old, steel-truss structure's central span on Sept. 26. FDOT announced on Oct. 1 that Superior Construction, Jacksonville, submitted the apparent low bid, with a price of $1.07 million, plus a potential $500,000 in bonuses. FDOT estimates the total cost of repairs at $3 million.

The USNS 1st Lt. Harry Martin was passing underneath the Mathews Bridge on the afternoon of Sept. 26 when an elevated structure located on the ship's stern struck the main span. The impact damaged a main structural beam and shoved metal plates that support the deck an estimated two to three inches out of position, which eventually could have caused the structure to fall off the supports, agency officials stated.

FDOT spokesman Michael Goldman said the damage "created a weight imbalance that, [with] further traffic and vibrations, could've caused a collapse."

For bidding, FDOT estimated a 40-day schedule and offered an early-completion incentive of $50,000 per day, with a $500,000 maximum. Superior estimated 30 days for repairs, with work starting on Oct. 2.

FDOT hopes to re-open the bridge as soon as crews can stabilize the structure, which normally carries an estimated 56,500 vehicles per day.