$8.3 million Buckman Bridge project underway

More than 125,000 cars drive over the Buckman Bridge every day.

“This bridge is a lengthy bridge. A lot of traffic on it,” said Ron Tittle, with the Florida Department of Transportation.

The bridge is 3 miles to be exact. That’s why Tittle says they want to make sure it can handle the wear and tear.

“This project that's going on now will be to maintain the bridge and keep the maintenance up,” Tittle said.

He says the routine checkups won’t be from above the bridge, but from below it.

It's all part of an $8.3 million bridge preservation project.

“With this project, they'll be going in with divers and checking the structure of the bridge, making sure everything is intact,” Tittle said.

Tittle says the project will be done in phases and this part won’t affect too many drivers.

“Right now what the public will see is probably all the work will be under the bridge,” Tittle said.

The work is forcing boaters like Edward Skipper to pay attention.

“If I saw any type of construction workers anywhere present I would veer around them make sure I take extra caution in their presence,” Skipper said.

“When they see our people working, we're like roadways -- slow down. You’re in a construction zone and we want to make sure our workers are safe,” Tittle said.

Tittle says there is also a safety study going on due to multiple accidents.

The entire project will be finished at the end of next year.

WJAX