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Article Courtesy of FOX 35
News
By
Digital Staff
Published November 7, 2025
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Repairs for a bridge in Eustis' Spring Ridge Estate are underway as the city
says a Florida Department of Transportation-certified engineer is evaluating the
bridge and working on a repair plan.
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The Spring Ridge Estates Homeowners
Association hired a private FDOT engineer to evaluate the
current state of the bridge and form a plan for repairs.
Eustis officials are also working with private contractors –
who were hired by the HOA – to identify a temporary solution
to restore safe access to residents, the city told FOX 35
Monday.
As of Oct. 30, 50 residents – around 21 homes – were
evacuated following the collapse of the bridge. As the
bridge collapsed, it also affected the water main, which was
shut off, officials said. This also impacts fire service to
the neighborhood, Eustis Fire Chief Michael Swanson said
Oct. 30.
"We have contingency plans in place should the main sewer
line fail, and equipment is already staged in the event the
bridge deteriorates further," Swanson said Monday. "Our goal
is to do everything possible to prevent a full evacuation of
the community."
Water remains flowing under the bridge,
which is contributing to the continual erosion of the
culverts, the city of Eustis said. As of Monday, the U.S.
Army Corps of Engineers is not on site, the city said.
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Spring Ridge Estates Eustis bridge collapses on Oct.
30. The city says repairs are underway.
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Bridge and water main compromised
A large culvert system was heavily damaged in an Oct. 26 storm. The structure
was washed out.
"We do know that the culverts are compromised at this time," Swanson said during
a Nov. 3 press conference. The culverts are compromised on over half of the
bridge – past the center line, he said.
Pieces are still falling off the bridge – a chunk of rock fell and hit the water
main on Friday, Swanson said – and it's not safe to send people under. The
ground is soft around the structure, he said.
Additionally, a collapsed sidewalk is on top of the water main, Swanson said.
Fifty Eustis residents were evacuated Oct. 30 after a bridge at Spring Ridge
Estates collapsed and now continues to erode, officials said.
The fire department said it first noticed issues with the bridge on Oct. 27 and
that the issues were getting progressively worse.
By Thursday, work crews said the bridge issues were significant, Fire Chief
Michael Swanson said.
Around 7 p.m., Eustis officials discovered the bridge had collapsed. On Friday
morning, part of the bridge fell again, Swanson said.
"What we're concerned about at this point is the erosion is continuing to
happen," he said. "If it continues and progresses the way we think it's going
to, it's going to work its way to the master sewer line."
This means the city could lose the lift station, meaning the neighborhood will
lose water and sewer. The entire neighborhood would be evacuated if this
happens, Swanson said.
The city is currently working to divert water to protect utilities, including
water and sewer lines under the bridge. Most affected homeowners have homeowners
insurance and can get assistance to live somewhere else during the evacuation
period, Swanson said. The neighborhood will remain evacuated until the city can
provide water back to the homes and find a safe way for trucks and vehicles to
travel to the area, he said.
The city is also working on maintaining the current utilities under the bridge.
If something does happen, the sewer line can be bypassed and be running within
eight hours.
"We're limited to what we can do because it's a private bridge with city
utilities underneath it," he said. "… I would hope that when they get a plan in
place, they can work on it pretty quick."
Swanson said the city will assist the homeowner's association if they need a
loan in order to get the bridge fixed.
The bridge repair time is not known at this time. The total cost for repairs is
also not known.
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