Shands Bridge at dedication, October 30, 1963. Westbound on the Shands Bridge. The first span called Shands Bridge was opened in 1929 and was located just north of the current span, crossing from Orangedale to the present Shands pier on the west side of the river.
The current bridge was dedicated on October 30, 1963, and features a beam-type construction for a total of two lanes. The bridge is part of SR 16 and is the only crossing of the St. Johns River between Jacksonville and Palatka.
In 2004, proposals were made to replace or upgrade the span. Problems cited include increasing traffic in the Clay County and St. Johns County areas, safety, and the inability of large boats to travel upriver. One plan would put a new bridge north of the existing one, connecting to extensions of SR 9B and SR 23.
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