Base of train trestle over Spruce Creek poses dangers, residents say
PORT ORANGE, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - It’s a stretch of Spruce Creek that looks picturesque. But locals warn that passing through the area has become too dangerous.
“This has been going on for decades and so it’s getting worse,” said Robert Lloyd, who lives along the creek in Volusia County. “And somebody is going to be seriously hurt or get killed.”
Lloyd says rocks and oyster beds have built up in the water below a railroad bridge, making it treacherous for anyone trying to get through.
“When the tide goes down, there’s very little water,” he explained. “In fact, in some places, it’s impassable, even by a kayak or a canoe.”
His friend and neighbor Steve Gardner had a close call over the summer.
“Got about half way through it and the whole boat lurched,” Gardner said. “Flipped up on its side, threw my kids out of the chairs, it was quite frightening.”
The two men are part of a group called “Spruce Creek Rising.” It’s a movement to make the area under the trestle safer. They’re asking officials to dredge to create a larger passageway for boaters and wildlife.
“The county has been supportive but I think folks are trying to figure out who’s responsible for it. There are about eight jurisdictions that have legal claim to the water and to this access,” Lloyd said.
A Volusia County spokesperson says they’re doing research on ownership and reaching out to the railroad.