Canaveral Barge Canal
Canal in Brevard County, Florida, US From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Canaveral Barge Canal is an active canal in Brevard County, Florida, cutting east-west across northern Merritt Island just south of Cape Canaveral. It connects the Atlantic Ocean and Port Canaveral with the Indian River and wider Indian River Lagoon, part of the Intracoastal Waterway. The canal consists of two segments separated by the Banana River.[2]
| Canaveral Barge Canal | |
|---|---|
 Barge canal, looking towards the Christa McAuliffe Bridge | |
 | |
| Location | Brevard County, Florida |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 28°24′33″N 80°41′37″W |
| Specifications | |
| Maximum boat draft | 12 feet (3.7 m)[1] |
| Locks | 1 |
| Total rise | 3–4 feet (0.91–1.22 m)[1] |
| Status | Open |
| Navigation authority | U.S. Army Corps of Engineers |
| History | |
| Date of first use | January 1, 1965 |
| Geography | |
| Start point | Atlantic Ocean |
| End point | Indian River |
| Connects to | Banana River, Port Canaveral, Intracoastal Waterway, Sykes Creek |
The canal was constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1965 to allow the transport of crude oil by barge to two power plants south of Titusville, Florida. The design was expanded during the planning stage to enable the transport of Saturn rocket stages to NASA's Kennedy Space Center for the Apollo program.[1]
Canaveral Lock, the canal's only lock and the largest navigation lock in Florida, is located on the eastern segment. It has a rise of 3–4 feet (0.91–1.22 m) and protects Canaveral Harbor from tidal currents, storm surge, and salt water. The lock is free of charge and takes 20 to 30 minutes for watercraft to traverse.[1]
Vessels with drafts up to 12 feet (3.7 m) may use the canal,[1] which was intended for barges but not ships (the adjacent Port Canaveral allows drafts up to 39.5 feet (12.0 m)[3]). The canal is popular with recreational boaters, providing access to Sykes Creek and various marinas. The next-closest passages between the Intracoastal Waterway and the ocean are Ponce de Leon Inlet, 50 miles (80 km) to the north, and Sebastian Inlet, 40 miles (64 km) to the south.[2]
| Bridge | Type | Carries | Location | Coordinates |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Christa McAuliffe Bridge | Bascule drawbridge |  SR 3 / Courtenay Parkway |
Merritt Island | 28°24′26″N 80°42′24″W |
| Barge Canal Bridge |  SR 401 |
28°24′32″N 80°37′55″W |
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