A problem was found during the testing phase of the new Matlacha Bridge, which will postpone the switch in traffic from the old span to the new bridge, which was expected to occur this week.

Lee County Department of Transportation Project Manager Sarah said during the testing phase a problem was found in the trunnion, which is a cylindrical member that rotates the bridge.

“We are investigating with the manufacturer and the contractor to identify the cause and what is needed to fix it,” she said. “At this time, we don’t yet know what the fix is and therefore don’t know the extent of the delay, but all parties will work to minimize the delay.”

Functional testing has to be done on the bridge before it is opened to traffic. The bridge has to open 240 times without any problems to ensure everything is operating safely.