207: Black Water Bridge Redesign

The five members of engineering senior design team 207 stand together on the third floor breezeway at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering.

Traffic in downtown Milton is a problem because the 480-foot bridge can’t accommodate the heavy volume of cars. To solve this, we proposed a new plan to keep the old bridge and build a new, wider bridge next to it. The two bridges will improve traffic flow and support Milton’s future growth.

The new bridge design includes several lanes and spaces for bicycles and pedestrians. By keeping the old bridge for one-way traffic and using the new bridge for the opposite direction, this plan helps traffic move more smoothly and reduces stops. The design also fits well with the existing road network, making it easy for cars to enter and exit the downtown area.

Key features of the new bridge include a larger width, increased load capacity and flexibility for future expansions. Safety features include new barriers, good lighting and emergency lanes. We built the bridge to meet local, state and federal standards, ensuring it could handle current and future traffic needs.

A detailed design plan, including a land survey, traffic studies, and phased construction, kept disruptions to a minimum. The new bridge reduces traffic, improves flow, and provides a long-term solution for Milton’s growing needs. This project makes Milton’s traffic network smoother and better prepared for future growth.

Jordan Bennett, Tyren Neasman, Joshua Smith, Sierra Smith, Lawrence Viaud

O. Sean Martin, Ph.D., P.E. and Michelle Rambo-Roddenberry, Ph.D., P.E., FASCE

Hanson Engineering – Travis Shannon, P.E.

Fall