Francis P. Whitehair Bridge
The Francis P. Whitehair Bridge, also known as the Crows Bluff Bridge, is a double leaf bascule bridge located in Crows Bluff, Florida that carries State Road 44 over the St. Johns River. The original bridge on the site was constructed in 1917; replaced in 1955, and though it was previously expected to remain in service until the 2050s, a new version of the bridge is under construction. History. The original Crows Bluff Bridge was a swing span bridge; constructed in 1917, in 1926 it became a free crossing. In 1954, a plan for construction of  a replacement bridge was established; the new bridge, dedicated to DeLand resident Francis P. Whitehair, opened on September 22, 1955. In the late 1980s and early 1990s the bridge was closed several times for repairs. A 1993 truck accident damaged the bridge, requiring repairs to its guardrails. In 2006 a truck caused damage to the bridge's support beams in another accident; the damage was repaired within a week.