-
Building the Overseas Highway Click to Play Video... -
Key West, Florida
Car Rentals Lisitings Click for More Info... -
Marathon, Florida
Car Rental Listings Click for More Info... -
Key Largo, Tavenier Islamorada, Florida
Car Rental Listings Click for More Info... -
Dollar Car Rental Click for More Info...
Building the Overseas Highway
The Overseas Highway is a 127.5-mile (205.2 km) long road carrying U.S. Route 1 through the Florida Keys. It has just been awarded the All-American Road designation. The All-American Road designation will bring status to us with international and domestic visitors, so that they know driving U.S. 1 from Key Largo to Key West is a one-of-a-kind driving experience," said Judy Hull, president of the Florida Keys Scenic Corridor Alliance, which spearheaded a multiyear effort to achieve the distinction. "It should help us with tourism and future highway grant funding." Large parts of it were built on the former right-of-way of the Overseas Railroad, the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. Completed in 1912, the Overseas Railroad was heavily damaged and partially destroyed in the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935. The Florida East Coast Railway was financially unable to rebuild the destroyed sections, so the roadbed and remaining bridges were sold to the State of Florida for $640,000. The original construction of the Overseas Highway used many of the bridges of the former railroad, including truss bridges, where the roadway was built on top of the trusses. Most of these older bridges built for railroads have been replaced by more modern bridges that are able to accommodate more than two lanes of traffic. The highway included the Seven Mile Bridge, the Bahia Honda Bridge and the Long Key Bridge (although these three original bridges are no longer open to vehicular traffic, except for part of Seven Mile Bridge, they are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and are currently used as fishing piers). From its opening on March 29, 1938, until the destruction by fire of the Card Sound Bridge in 1944, the Overseas Highway also had the signed designation State Road 4A; after the realignment in 1945 to its current entry onto Key Largo along the old railroad right-of-way (the new segment of Overseas Highway, from Florida City to Key Largo is known locally as "the 18 Mile Stretch"), it received the unsigned designation State Road 5, the same as the entirety of US 1 south of Jacksonville at that time. Aerial view of the Overseas Highway between Florida City and Key LargoPortions of the road were tolled until April 15, 1954; toll booths were located on Big Pine Key and Lower Matecumbe Key. Pigeon Key, roughly the midway point of the Seven Mile Bridge, served as the headquarters for the "Overseas Road and Toll District." The toll for automobiles was $1, plus 25 cents per passenger. The entire roadway of the Overseas Highway was substantially rebuilt in the 1980s. In recent years, Pigeon Key was used by the University of Miami as an oceanography laboratory, but current efforts to restore the buildings on the island have resulted in the establishment of a railroad museum there. The newer Seven Mile Bridge does not have direct access to Pigeon Key; people going there must walk on 2.2 miles (3.5 km) of the original Seven Mile Bridge from its northern end on Knight's Key, or take a shuttle bus, to reach the island.
- Building the Overseas Highway
- Marathon, FL
![](https://www.conchtv.com/wp-content/themes/default/images/btnAddBusiness.png)
More Information
- Advertise Key West Weddings Services Online
- Advertise on Conch TV and Conch Radio
- Best Key West Florida Hotels
- Coconut Cam
- Conch Cam
- Conch Color TV
- Conch Republic Giveaway
- Conch Republic Media Group
Promotes Key West and Florida Keys Businesses - Conch Republic Media Group | press release 03-26-2011
- Conch Republic Media Group Wins Accolade Competition
- Conch Republic Radio
- Conch Republic Television
- Find The Perfect Key West Resorts For Your Vacation
- Florida Keys Arts
- Florida Keys Attractions
- Florida Keys Boating. FL Keys Charter Boats
- Florida Keys Cheap Hotel Prices. Key West Events
- Florida Keys Dining Guide
- Florida Keys Diving
- Florida Keys Eco-Tours. Florida Keys Vacation Packages
- Florida Keys Emergency Medical Services
- Florida Keys Fishing. FL Keys Fishing Vacations
- Florida Keys Hotels. Florida Keys Hotel Guide
- Florida Keys Information. Florida Key Vacation Guide
- Florida Keys Radio
- Florida Keys Wedding Guide. FL Keys Wedding Plans
- Florida Keys Wedding Packages
- Florida Keys Wedding Photographers
- Florida Keys Wedding Photography
- Florida Keys Weddings
- Islamorada Attractions. Islamorada FL Vacation Guide
- Islamorada Dining Guide
- Islamorada Fishing, The Ultimate Fishing Vacation!
- Islamorada Fishing. Islamorada FL Fishing Vacations
- Islamorada FL Information. Flordia Keys Vacations
- Islamorada Florida Keys Vacations
- Islamorada Hotels. Islamorada Fl Hotel Guide
- Islamorada Wedding Guide. Fl Keys Wedding Planning
- Key Largo Attractions
- Key Largo Diving
- Key Largo Fishing
- Key Largo Information
- Key Largo Restaurants
- Key West Advanced Urgent Care
- Key West Arts Information
- Key West Attractions
- Key West Bride
- Key West Cheap Hotels. Key West Hotels
- Key West Churches | Florida Keys Churches
- Key West Diving
- Key West Entertainment
- Key West Events
- Key West Film Festival
- Key West Film Production
- Key West Film Studio
- Key West Fishing
- Key West Fl Charter Fishing. Key West Fishing Vacation
- Key West Florida Bed and Breakfast
- Key West History
- Key West Hotels
- Key West Information
- Key West Music
- Key West News
- Key West Radio
- Key West Restaurants
- Key West Scuba Diving
Vandenberg Wreck Diving - Key West Shopping
- Key West Snorkeling. Key West Diving Trips
- Key West Time | Producers Craig Hollenback and Gail Hollenback
- Key West Transportation
- Key West Travel Guide
- Key West Video
- Key West Videos
- Key West Water Sports
- Key West Wedding Guide
- Key West Wedding Information
- Key West Wedding Photographer
- Key West Wedding Photography
- Key West Wedding Photos
- Key West Wedding Planner
- Key West with Lynda
- Key West, Florida Keys Hotel News
- Lower Keys Diving
- Lower Keys Hotels
- Lower Keys Information
- Marathon Attractions
- Marathon Fishing
- Marathon Hotels
- Marathon Information in The Florida Keys
- Marathon Restaurants
- Market Your Florida Keys Hotels
- New Internet Radio Channel Broadcasts Feel-Good Florida Keys Music
- Parrothead Key West Radio | Key West
- Reach Visitors Planning Florida Keys | Key West Vacations
- Submit Your Own Florida Keys Images and YouTube Videos
- Target People Planning Key West Vacations
- The Conch Republic Newsletter | "The Conch Republic Telegraph"
- Trop Rock Music | Conch Republic Radio | Key West
- Viewer Submissions - Videos
- Wedding Planner Key West
Thank you for providing this historical footage. Can’t believe you ever found it.
Lillian Van HestVery COOL! I am old enough to remember the toll road, but not old enough to remember the RR!
Pat CurryHow the was car able to run on the railroad tracks he mention what it was I can make out what he said?
Kurt WebsterKnee Action suspension I got it.
Kurt WebsterCan I just say what a relief to find seoomne who actually knows what theyre talking about on the internet. You definitely know how to bring an issue to light and make it important. More people need to read this and understand this side of the story. I cant believe youre not more popular because you definitely have the gift.
LorvensGreat footage! Does anyone happen to know the year this aired?
Kristin HazenHi! Quick question that’s eneirtly off topic. Do you know how to make your site mobile friendly? My blog looks weird when browsing from my iphone. I’m trying to find a template or plugin that might be able to fix this issue. If you have any recommendations, please share. Appreciate it!
AlinaGreat Video and was instrumental in teaching my grandchildren how the road was built. Just vacationed in the keys.
Dave Lane