By the early 20th century, Henry Morrison Flagler had already achieved great wealth and acclaim by financing the development of Florida’s wild and remote east coast. His new dream was to connect the isolated city of Key West to mainland Florida. The Over the Sea Railway would span 126 miles of open water using the islands of the Florida Keys as stepping stones. The Bahia Honda Bridge was built between 1909 and 1912. It was one of the most challenging sections due to the deep channels.
The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed 40 miles of train tracks in the upper keys and the Florida East Coast Railroad – already approaching bankruptcy – couldn’t afford to rebuild. The state purchased what remained of the old railroad beds and bridges, using them as the foundation for the Overseas Highway.
As personal vehicles began replacing railroads, access to the Florida Keys had to change. The railroad bridge was transformed in 1938 to become part of the Overseas Highway. The railroad structure was too narrow for two lanes of traffic, so the new highway had to be built on top of the truss spans. The highway bridge was known for its unique design, exciting ride and breathtaking view. The old bridge trail follows the path that was once the highway.
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