What happened to the original 7 Mile Bridge?

The vast majority of the original bridge still exists, although the swing span — which allowed passage of boats in the Moser Channel near where the bridge crosses Pigeon Key — was removed in the aftermath of yet another destructive hurricane (Hurricane Donna) in 1960.



People Also Ask

The Old Seven was originally constructed in early 1900 as part of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway's Key West Extension, also known as the Overseas Railroad. In the early 1980's this old bridge was no longer used for vehicular traffic when the new bridge was constructed.

MORE DETAILS

deep; the Seven Mile Bridge below Knight's Key over water 18 to 22-ft. deep; the Bahia Honda Bridge, slightly more than one mile long over water from 20 to 30-ft. deep; and the bridge at Boca Chica slightly more than one-half mile long (5).

MORE DETAILS

You can walk, bike or rollerblade the approximately 2.2 miles to Pigeon Key on the bridge and enjoy the amazing views. In the Florida Keys, there is no name better known than Henry Flagler who built the world-famous Oversea Railway in the early 1900's.

MORE DETAILS

Generally, the speed limit is 55 mph.

MORE DETAILS

Not long after the tragedy, the modern Seven Mile Bridge would replace the Flagler-era bridges. Construction on the new and improved automobile bridge began in 1979; it officially opened to traffic on May 24, 1982.

MORE DETAILS

A modern wonder, the 113 miles of roadway from Key Largo to Key West incorporates an astonishing 42 bridges leapfrogging from key to key in a series of giant arches of concrete and steel over the open waters of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. And what do visitors see?

MORE DETAILS