A viral social media post highlighting severe structural decay on the Ferry Bridge linking Great Exuma and Little Exuma has prompted official confirmation from the Bahamas’ Ministry of Works and Family Island Affairs that the aging crossing requires full replacement — though the government has yet to announce when construction on a new structure will get underway. The bridge is counted among nine high-priority infrastructure projects prioritized by the current Davis administration, after engineering assessments completed by the ministry verified the need for full replacement. In an official statement released Tuesday evening, the ministry noted that its technical teams have long been aware of the crossing’s deteriorating condition, and preliminary design work for the replacement bridge has already been finalized. Necessary pre-construction technical reviews and public planning processes are currently moving forward, according to the agency.
Despite confirming the replacement plan, officials declined to address a key claim accompanying the widely shared viral video: that chunks of concrete break away and fall into the surrounding water when heavy trucks traverse the structure. The footage shows loose material dangling from the bridge’s underside, which the accompanying social media post identified as exposed reinforcing steel. Until the replacement project breaks ground, ministry engineers will conduct regular safety inspections of the existing structure to protect the thousands of motorists and local residents who depend on the inter-island connection. “In the interim, the Ministry’s engineers will continue to monitor the existing structure, and advise on any measures necessary to protect the safety of motorists and residents who rely on this critical connection between Great and Little Exuma,” the statement read. Officials added they recognize the Ferry Bridge’s central role in supporting daily life and local economic activity across the Exumas, and will publish additional updates as technical design, procurement, and implementation work progresses.
Before the ministry released its formal statement, Glenn Davis, Chief Councillor of Exuma, told local outlet The Tribune that government assessments of the bridge had been completed previously, and replacement plans had already been drafted. “I don’t know if it’s a danger,” Davis said, “but I know that heavy vehicles or heavy loads shouldn’t cross the bridge.” He explained that government inspectors carried out a full review of the structure last year, and concluded that full replacement was the only viable solution, adding that the existing bridge has stood for decades and all required pre-planning work to scope the project has already been finished.
Local perspectives on the bridge’s safety have been divided in the wake of the viral video. Cecil Smith, a long-time Exuma resident, warned against drawing conclusions about the bridge’s safety from social media footage alone. “I am not aware of any report by certified government engineers or otherwise that the bridge is unsafe,” Smith said. “However, there have been in the past some restrictions about certain tonnage going across the bridge.” Smith added that he does not know the official weight limit or whether those restrictions are still enforced, and stressed that only qualified government engineering professionals can properly assess the structure’s condition, arguing the viral video does not prove the bridge is at risk of collapse. Another local resident, who requested anonymity, told reporters that she believes the viral footage exaggerates the bridge’s current condition, though she acknowledged that critical repairs or replacement are long overdue.
The renewed public scrutiny of the Ferry Bridge comes just one week after a sudden structural failure led to the immediate condemnation of the Fresh Creek Bridge on the nearby island of Central Andros, which cut off a critical transportation artery for the community. As The Tribune reported on August 5, an intermediate supporting pier on one of the Fresh Creek Bridge’s pile caps sank, shifting the entire structure’s weight to just two external supports and causing three concrete bridge slabs to subside. Officials ordered the bridge immediately closed to all vehicle traffic, announcing that the structure would be fully demolished rather than repaired due to the extent of the damage.
The sudden closure severely disrupted travel across Central Andros, cutting off access to the island’s airport, government service centers, and local businesses. It also initially delayed restoration work by Bahamas Power and Light crews, who were unable to transport heavy equipment to repair outages in Cargill Creek and parts of South Andros. Officials noted that a prefabricated temporary bridge sourced from a supplier in New York will take approximately two months to be delivered and installed on Andros, leaving residents facing extended disruption to travel and commerce.