Ocean Highway

 Florida's Overseas Highway was one of the world's longest bridges 

If you arrive on the highway at the right time, you can see some of the most awe-inspiring sunrises and sunsets anywhere in the country. Be prepared to idle on the highway if you come during the high tourist season, however. A drive that usually takes about four hours to complete can take quite a bit longer, especially on holiday weekends.

Also known as the Seven Mile Bridge

Constructed in 1938 to replace what was once the Overseas Railroad  (built 1912)-- which was destroyed by the Labor Day Hurricane that swept through the Florida Keys in 1935 -- the Overseas Highway stretches nearly 130 miles from end to end, mostly over water across 42 bridges between Key Largo and Key West.

It is a 127.5-mile (205.2 km) highway carrying U.S. Route 1 (US 1) through the Florida Keys. 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. 

The construction of the Overseas Highway and Railway Bridges was very important to the economic development of the Florida Keys. The bridges are significant surviving elements of Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Railway intended to open the Florida coast for development. Begun in 1905 and completed in 1912, the bridges were intended to connect the Florida Keys to the mainland. The construction of Key Bridge began in 1906 and was completed in 1907; the 6.7 mile long Knight Key Bridge was constructed from 1909 to 1912; and the Old Bahia Honda Bridge (no longer in use), was also constructed from 1909 to 1912. The railroad extension was short-lived. The 1935 severe hurricane hit the area and destroyed more than 30 miles of track. In the following years, the bridges were restored and converted from rail to vehicular traffic. The bridges helped open the area to tourism and today are part of U.S. Highway 1 connecting the Florida Keys to the mainland. Because of their remote location and the construction techniques employed, experts consider the bridges to be significant engineering achievements.

The Florida East Coast Railway was financially unable to restore the destroyed sections, the state of Florida took over ownership for $640,000.

Updated: 09/18/2013

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