Welch Causeway Drawbridge – Video Camera System Treasure Island

The drawbridge on the 57 year old Welch Causeway, also known locally as the Madeira Beach Bridge and Tom Stuart Causeway, began undergoing repairs in January 2019. In May, the general contractor reached out to Surveillance Technology, Inc. (STI) for their expertise to further improve safety at the bascule style bridge. STI installed a new video camera system in Treasure Island which uses Internet Protocol to wirelessly send images from weatherproof high-resolution cameras through a 5 gigahertz encrypted bridge. Two 2-megapixel cameras, housed in a stainless steel anti-corrosion vandal-proof dome, keep watch over the movable bridge to ensure all cars are stopped safely behind the barriers, and the span is clear before it’s opened. These cameras, with 4.1 – 16.4 mm motorized, autofocus lenses, have onboard analytics with the ability to define and monitor specific zones, where movement would result in notification to the bridge operators. On weekends and holidays, the bridge opens three times an hour. Real time assurance that critical areas are free of pedestrians and vehicles keeps the bridge on schedule, which keeps boaters and drivers moving along safely to their next adventure.