Matlacha Pass Bridge Live Cam

History

Early Beginnings: The Wooden Swing Span

In the dawn of the twentieth century, the crossing of Matlacha Pass relied on a modest wooden swing bridge that pivoted to allow small vessels to pass through the narrow estuary. Constructed from native heart pine timber and reinforced with iron struts, this single‑lane structure served local fishermen and farmers who transported oysters, citrus, and livestock between Pine Island and the mainland. Its swing mechanism consisted of a central pivot pier anchored in the channel bed, with wooden gears and iron pintles that required manual winding by bridge tenders.

Despite its humble appearance, the wooden swing span was instrumental in shaping settlement patterns. Each time the bridge opened, carts and Model T automobiles paused on either bank, while shrimp boats and flats skiffs slipped through the channel. The slow rotation of the span offered a rare opportunity for travelers to glimpse flocks of wading birds roosting on mangrove islets, and to taste the tang of salt air mingled with the scent of sawgrass and sea grape blooms.