Bridges

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With more than a thousand miles of coastline, many scenic rivers and navigable waterways, and countless lakes dotting its interior, Florida has historically challenged those who would build highways and bridges. Up until the Civil War, bridges in Florida were mainly primitive and temporary. With the advent of rail in the late 19th century, however, specifically Henry Flagler's Florida East Coast Line, it was evident that stronger structures were needed to carry heavy loads across wide spans of water and uneven terrain. Major accomplishments in bridge-building in Florida include the Overseas Highway in 1938, which re-connected Key West to the mainland after a hurricane three years prior; the Gandy Bridge across Old Tampa Bay, which, when completed in 1924, reduced the travel time from St. Petersburg to Tampa by half; and the Florida East Coast Railway bridge across the St. Johns River. Today, Florida's bridges, like the Sunshine Skyway across lower Tampa Bay, the Roosevelt Bridge in Stuart, and the 17th Street Bridge in Fort Lauderdale (now under construction) are grand achievements designed to move people safely and efficiently.

	The Gandy Bridge - Tampa Bay (1930) (23 k)		Florida East Coast Railway Bridge - St. Johns River (1925) (25 k)
	Sulphur Springs Bridge (1923) (27 k)		Lafayette Street Bridge (1900s) (57 k)
	Halifax River Bridge (1930s) (30 k)