New River Guide: Part II Navigation

Also see our list of bridges on the New River, Fort Lauderdale.

The four Florida Power and Light smokestack towers mark Port Everglades from sea or land.
The four Florida Power and Light smokestack towers mark Port Everglades from sea or land.

From Port Everglades to I-95
Ft. Lauderdale, FL

This information is to be used as a guide. Prudent captains will always refer to other sources such as US Government charts and books.

NOTE: BRIDGES WILL NOT OPEN from 7:30-9:00 AM and from 4:30 to 6:00 PM, M-F during rush hour traffic
Use VHF Channel 9 to communicate with bridges
Always monitor Channel 9 for traffic reports from vessels headed up or down the river.
Beware! There is a 2 knot tidal current in the New River changing direction every 6 hours.
Very Important! It is best to go up the river with the tide coming out.

1. Arrive at the sea entrance at Ft. Lauderdale, Port Everglades Cut. Proceed North on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) to the 17th Street Causeway Bridge (opens on the half hour and hour between 8:00 AM and 7:00 PM, otherwise opens on demand).
2. Proceed North up the ICW. Stay to the left of Green Marker 21. There is a very shallow triangular piece of water. Keep the seawall and Red Marker 20 as your channel.
3. Merge with the New River. Turn left and proceed up the river. Stay in the channel with Green markers on your Port and Red Markers on your Starboard.

From the sea buoy, the smoke stack of Port Everglads line up. When you are north or south, they appear as 4 distinct stacks.
From the sea buoy, the smoke stack of Port Everglades line up. When you are north or south, they appear as 4 distinct stacks.
Wide shot from the north side of 17th heading toward the Port Everglades basin.
Wide shot from the north side of 17th heading toward the Port Everglades basin.
17th is the only bridge in the ICW before the New River. It is 55 feet high and opens.
17th is the only bridge in the ICW before the New River. It is 55 feet high and opens.

4. Continue through a wide area that runs up to a tight turn to Port and another to Starboard. Be aware of traffic. Very large yachts will take up this area. It is recommended to hold at the first turn and wait for large yacht’s to clear.
5. Approach the first bridge on the New River, Third Ave. Bridge.

The Jungle Queen heads eastward through the 3rd Ave bridge towards the ICW.
The Jungle Queen heads eastward through the 3rd Ave bridge towards the ICW.
Outgoing past Andrews Ave going towards the ICW.
Outgoing past Andrews Ave going towards the ICW.
Andrews is the 2nd bridge along the New River. It is low and must open for sailboats.
Andrews is the 2nd bridge along the New River. It is low and must open for sailboats.

6. Continue up the New River to the second bridge, Andrews Ave. Bridge. NOTE: Andrews Ave. Bridge opens with one span from the north side. If you are a sailboat then you must stay on the north side depending on size of mast height.
7. Continue to the third bridge, a Railroad Bridge, which has no specific closing time. It is always open unless a train is coming. Then it may be down/ closed for an hour. If the Railroad Bridge is down/ closed, it is best to tie up on the side of the canal and wait.

The Jungle Queen goes eastward past the railroad bridge towards the ICW.
The Jungle Queen goes eastward past the railroad bridge towards the ICW.
Seventh Ave is the fourth and last bridge on the New River before the river splits into the South and North forks.
Seventh Ave is the fourth and last bridge on the New River before the river splits into the South and North forks.
Watch out for traffic at the Little Florida Bend located on the South Fork past where the New River splits into North and South forks but before River Reach.
Watch out for traffic around the Little Florida Bend located on the South Fork between where the North and South forks split and River Reach.

8. Continue to the fourth bridge, Seventh Ave. Bridge.
9. Continue until the New River splits/forks; to the right is the North Fork and to the left is the South Fork. If you are headed to the boatyards, take the South Fork. The South Fork takes a hard turn to port, goes around Little Florida, and turns 180 degrees. The river will narrow. Be sure that no other large vessels are in this narrow section before heading further up the river. Check Channel 9 always.
10. Past the next bridge, Davie Blvd Bridge, the river will open up a little. Davie Blvd is the last bridge before I-95, a fixed bridge with 55’ vertical clearance. Boatyards such as Riverbend Marina and Lauderdale Marine Center are before the I-95 fixed bridge.

Timelapse Return Trip