The project was part of a 30-year agreement with a budget of $77 million ratified between the Keys' Monroe County, Marathon municipal officials and the Florida Department of Transportation to fund restoration along with a maintenance program to ensure the landmark's preservation. In 1982, the newSeven Mile Bridge(actually 6.79 miles long and one of the worlds longest segmental bridges) debuted alongside the historic one and the old bridges steel swing span, which had facilitated marine traffic, was removed. Copyright 2015-2022 - South Florida Reporter. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". The Seven Mile Bridge and Pigeon Keys fascinating history are told through displays and artifacts in its museum. You can fish from the park at the base of the bridge on the bay side. The reverie threatened to end abruptly after 2.2 miles at a wire fence: In 1982, a steel swing bridge that opened and closed to allow marine traffic was removed, creating a 253-foot gap and cutting all access to the other five-odd miles of Old Seven. Dismantled trackage was recycled, painted white, and used as guardrails. Starting in April 1909, a 32-year-old civil engineer named William Krome took on the Herculean task of crossing the expanse (which was actually 6.8 miles). (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau). Seven Mile Bridge - Wikipedia The station has been converted into a fine "Sail to Rails Museum" recounting Key West's storybook history, but itis almost entirely ignored by the crowds heading to the marina's nautical-themed seafood restaurants and yachts offering sunset cruises. Digital marketing by Two Oceans Digital, This Keys History story spotlights an historically focused attraction, event, person orplace that enriches the Florida Keys. On January 12, it reopened as a "linear park"which seized my imagination as a sort of "tropical High Line," a Floridian answer to the elevated rail-to-trail on Manhattan's West Side located a short distance from my New York apartment, which qualifies as one of America's most pedestrian-friendly historical sites. Despite early scandals, Flagler by most accounts tried to make life bearable: "Camps are clean," wrote a visiting journalist from the Chicago Tribune, "food good, pure ice and water supplied to each camp, no liquor sold in or near." Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more. The old . NEXT:What To Know About Visiting The Longest Suspended Walking Bridge In The World. Sunset Key Cottages is a truly unique getaway located just off the coast of Key West, where the views are unparalleled. We didnt do Pigeon Key cause it wasnt open yet but had a great time and would recommend to others :). Hotels and resorts are independently owned and operated. Historic building on Pigeon Key in the middle of the Old Seven Mile Bridge. Reopened 'Old Seven' is Gateway to Fascinating Pigeon Key Have fun and drive safe ! This Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, photo shows the restored Old Seven Mile Bridge ready for its Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, reopening to pedestrians, bicyclists, anglers and visitors to Pigeon Key. 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. Welcome to South Florida Reporter, your go-to source for news and information for the Sunshine State. The retired "Old Seven" evolved primarily into a recreation area that proved extremely popular. Once known as the Knights Key Bridge, the old Seven Mile Bridge is no longer used for vehicular traffic but is instead a pier and pedestrian/cyclist route that just reopened as of January 2022 after extensive renovations. Theres about a five-foot lane for bikes and the bridge is mostly flat, with about one-mile at the center elevated, according to a bicyclist who has written about it. Located on the island's southeastern beach, it is surging with activity, although few of the visitors notice another statue of Flagler in the splendid lobby, or realize that the hotels exterior was designed with Spanish arches that echo one of his bridges, the Long Key Viaduct. The Pigeon Key Blog. Florida Rambler may receive a modest commission if a purchase is made through an affiliate advertisers. The Century-Old Bridge That's More Than Just A Transportation Route Mile marker guide with dozens of stops to help make the most of your drive south. 90% of travelers recommend this experience. Historic Old Seven Mile Bridge Reopens in the Florida Keys Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. The first 2 miles to the north have been restored for pedestrians and bicycles to enjoy leading up to Pigeon Key. When I met Kelly McKinnon, one the island's four full-time resident staff and executive director of the Pigeon Key Foundation, the nonprofit that oversees the repair of tropical wear and tear and damage from 2017s Hurricane Irma, at the foot of the access bridge, he assures me, "It's not always so sleepy here." You can also pay via cash or credit card with one of the tour guides upon arrival. Though she doesn't have any recent stamps on her passport, she hopes to be able to get back on a plane sometime (very) soon. The explosion was done on an 80-foot model. Originally budgeted as a four-year, $33 million project, the final expenditure increased to $43 million because of the enormous scope of work necessary. Can I use an electric bike on the Old Seven Mile Bridge? More than 400 people were killed in the storm. The bridge re-opened after restoration on 1-12-2022. It was 22 feet wide, a single lane in each direction with no shoulder at all. The Old Seven Mile Bridge stretch between Pigeon Key and Marathon was converted to a 2.2 mile walking and biking path. Running parallel to the Florida Overseas Highway in the Middle Keys and linking the city of Marathon with Pigeon Key, a tiny island below the bridge, Old Seven - as it's known locally . Marathon Bike Rentals delivers bikes to hotels or homes in the area and Bike Marathon rents a variety of bikes at 2994 Overseas Highway. Some hotels and resorts loan or rent bikes too. See all 2 Old Seven Mile Bridge tours on Tripadvisor, View all hotels near Old Seven Mile Bridge on Tripadvisor, View all restaurants near Old Seven Mile Bridge on Tripadvisor. But as anyone whos traveled the Overseas Highway knows, getting to your resort is half the fun. Fred the Tree: Old 7 Mile Bridge, Key West - Zipping Around Originally built as an overseas railway in 1912, the bridge was a feat of engineering in its day . If you can't find a spot you can park across the road near the sunset grill and walk across the street. Last time we were visiting the bridge was under construction and happy to finally walk the old timer. Explore different ways to experience this place. It is a beautiful ride. There are two bridges in this location. The bridge runs arrow-straight across the water, 16 to 18 feet above the waves, depending on the tides, with freshly paved bike and pedestrian lanes and newly reinforced handrails. A significant challenge of the project was to restore the historic bridge to the same aestheticfabric as the original, according to project managers with the Florida Department of Transportation. Restoration work included structural steel and spalling and bridge joint system repairs; new decking, pedestrian and bicycle handrails; and other physical enhancementsto make the 2.2-mile span safer for recreational use. But on Labor Day weekend, 1935, a Category 5 hurricane smashed into the Middle Keysstill the most powerful storm to ever reach U.S. shoresand the iron rail tracks were tossed from their coral beds like strings of spaghetti. Woman killed, 2 children injured when parasail strikes old Seven Mile Great views. The reopening took place some 110 years after the bridges original debut as the centerpiece of railroad magnate Henry Flagler's Florida Keys Over-Sea Railroad, which connected the Keys with each other and mainland Florida for the first time. The bridge is supposed to open at the end of May 2017 for a short time and then the final repairs (which are estimated to take 1400 days) will begin in November 2017. The historic Old Seven Mile Bridge, a beloved two-mile stretch over crystal clear waters between Marathon and Pigeon Key, offers access to some of the most beautiful scenery and wildlife in the USA. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. They were in four separate sections due to the varying depths, each one involving different engineering challenges, using barges laden with steam-driven machinery that had to be constantly fed with coal and water, and creating infernal industrial scenes, particularly after dark. Old Seven-Mile Bridge | Marathon, Florida (We will never spam you). Copyright 2023 Opal Collection All Rights Reserved. The bridge is actually closed now. The longest bridge spanned 7-miles, giving it its name - The Old Seven Mile Bridge. You are encouraged to stay after the tour and snorkel in the clear waters off Pigeon Keys dock. Here's more: https://conchscooter.blogspot.com/2011/03/seven-mile-bridge-memorial.html. The others are tiny outcrops of reef barely above sea level, and poetic clumps of mangrove, quite a contrast from the brash metropolis of Miami, whose beachfronts lined with pastel Art Deco architecture, upscale cafes and swaying palm trees have made it one of America's most popular urban destinations. "The Old Seven Mile Bridge is very important to the Keys, the history of the Keys, and a viaduct to get to Pigeon Key, which in itself is beautiful, but the bridge itself is over 100 years old," said Roman Gastesi, the Monroe County administrator. Can I take my own boat to Pigeon Key? By clicking Accept All, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The view is amazing. It was already in dire financial straits when, on Labor Day, 1935, winds began accelerating across the Keys. The bridge will reopen to the public Wednesday, Jan. 12. From Pigeon Key, I walked back to Marathon, then continued driving the 44 miles south to Mile 0 of U.S. Highway 1, Key West, the end point of American road trips. There is a little street parking on the other side of US 1, just beyond the Sunset Grille and Raw Bar. Close (and yet so far) from the main highway to Key West, the park is a great way to take in the beauty of the Keys at an amble. While the Seven Mile Bridge is a busy highway, the historic Old Seven Mile Bridge has been closed to motor traffic since the 1980s and preserved as a historic landmark. Explore Florida's beaches and backwaters, islands and prairies, campgrounds, trails and historic sites. Head nets were even distributed for the bugs. Old Seven Mile Bridge (Marathon) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go We biked all the way to the end at Pigeon Key, didnt tour it because for us it wasnt worth the $15 per person even for our kids to walk around it. Are there restrooms at the Old Seven Mile Bridge? While there is no stopping on the bridge, there are areas where visitors can visit and access whether by ferry, on foot, or by bicycle. And visitation to the historic islet is going to climb rapidly, McKinnon predicts. Google top things to do in Key Largo, and youll be served up a whole slew of results indicating, Hes been called the Adirondack guide nonpareil byForbes Life Magazine for good reason. Few history lessons are as beautiful as this one: A visit to Pigeon Key, a picturesque little island surrounded by dazzling blue water in the middle of the Old Seven Mile Bridge. Click any thumbnail image to view a slideshow, Address The parking lot is very small so best to go when it's not crowded to get a parking spot. The iconic Seven Mile Bridge in Florida Keys reopens - Lonely Planet The bridge carries the Florida Keys aqueduct, supplying water to points west, as well as fiber optic cables, providing telecommunications to and from the lower Keys.[5]. Thanks we are from Ireland and have never been to the keys. Call the Visitors Center to pay prior to arrival. Its something that weve been able to get together and collaborate with the city of Marathon, with the state of Florida, and get it rehabbed like it is, and its been a great project.. He added that a new 60-passenger tram to take visitors back and forth to Pigeon Key is expected to be operational this spring. Want daily news updates? To make a reservation by phone, please call: However, the trip could be easily customized, depending on the time. Great views and the best place to watch the sunset! In the early 1980s this old bridge was no longer used for vehicular traffic when the new bridge was constructed. Or we stopped going northbound and parked near sunset grill on side of road, just watch for all no parking signs! Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail: The best sections to bike, Islamorada emerging as hub with new museum, breweries. detailed history of the Overseas Railroad. The refurbished Old Seven-Mile Bridge recently re-opened. But in 2022, McKinnon expects numbers to dwarf the old figure. Standing on Old Seven is a fully immersive experience, with the Gulf of Mexico on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other. Multi use path in great shape. The railway sold its right-of-way for a paltry $640,000, a fraction of Flagler's investment, and in 1938 the steel tracks were paved over for cars. The bridge joints were repaired, and new decking and aluminum pedestrian handrails were added for the walkway, with three layers of anti-rust paint applied. The Australian pine commands a remote piece of the bridge, which closed to traffic in 1982 but still stands in sections parallel to the present-day Seven Mile Bridge . What hotels are near Old Seven Mile Bridge? The bridge is limited to trams going to Pigeon Key, pedestrians, bicyclists and emergency vehicles. Just like the name states, the bridge is the predecessor to the current Seven Mile Bridge, which opened in 1982 as a smoother, far wider and higher replacement . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. A decade ago, it seemed probable that the bridge would simply be allowed to decay, its walkway too dangerous to traverse. Without enough funding, this iconic piece of the old 7 mile bridge will close. Speeding around the turquoise waters, I passed an exhausting array of snorkelers, swimmers, para-gliders, sailors and water-skiers. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. Travelers gazed in awe at the sparkling emerald water through windows on both sides of the carriage. In this Monday, Jan. 10, 2022, drone aerial photo provided by the Florida Keys News Bureau, boats pass underneath the new, left, and old, right, Seven Mile bridges in the Florida Keys. Although its not part of the bridge thats open to pedestrian traffic, Fred the Tree is an iconic resident of the Old Seven Mile Bridge. Visitors and residents bicycle and walk on the Florida Keys' Old Seven Mile Bridge Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, in Marathon, Fla. (Andy Newman/Florida Keys News Bureau), The Old Seven Mile Bridge reopened Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022, to pedestrians, bicyclists, anglers and visitors to Pigeon Key. This website uses cookies and similar technologies. [3] In 2014, the Florida Department of Transportation approved a $77 million plan to restore the old bridge. Read our. The information in this article was accurate on the date of publication. At that time, 4,500 tons of concrete and steel debris taken from the center swing span of the Old Seven Mile Bridge, also called the Moser Channel . I did see electric bikes using the bridge. The entire route from Florida City to Mile Marker 0 is packed with adventures, and one of them a longtime favorite has recently reopened for business after a five-year, $44 million renovation project. A putt above: 8 Maine mini golf courses that offer something more It was windy so watch your hats! Once known as the Knights Key Bridge, the 'old' Seven Mile Bridge is no longer used for vehicular traffic but is instead a pier and pedestrian/cyclist route that just reopened as of January 2022 after extensive renovations. The bridge is located at Mile Marker 47 in Marathon and only 2.2 miles of it are accessible. This teeming backbone of marine life runs the length of the Keys about five miles offshore and offers Florida Keys scuba diving vacation memories that last a lifetime. The modern bridge is open to vehicular traffic; the older one only to pedestrians and cyclists. When the bridge was converted for cars, the old rails were simply repurposed as guardrails for the new roadway and theyre still there. Guide To Seven Mile Bridge (& What You Can See On The Way) - TheTravel Then there is a gap and it is fenced off the remainder of the way as it sits alongside the newer bridge down to the next key. A portion of the Seven Mile Bridge, an engineering marvel completed in 1909, has been transformed into a linear park. Although vehicular traffic on the restored bridge is prohibited, an adjacent parking lot has been modified to accommodate up to 35 parked vehicles. Nicknamed "Old Seven," the oft-photographed 2.2-mile span reopened Jan. 12, 2022, to pedestrian recreation. Historic Old Seven Mile Bridge reopens in Florida Keys If you'd like to help or read more, visit Friends of Old Seven, the . 29,000 runners tour the city through 26-mile scenic route during annual This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. Historic Old Seven Mile Bridge Reopens in Florida Keys. The longest bridge connecting the Florida Keys, the original Seven Mile Bridge was also the longest bridge in existence at the time of its construction in the year 1900. Can I picnic near the bridge? With the 2.2 mile section of the bridge refurbished, it can hold 17-ton vehicles, such as fire trucks. 1885. A Short History of the Old Seven Mile Bridge - Pigeon Key There are lots of other walkers, bikers, and joggers so you feel safe, even in the dark before the sun rises. There is a Conch Train for folks not wanting to walk by foot. The Old Seven Mile Bridge is closely tied with Floridas history Henry Flaglers railroad down the east coast of Florida is what opened the state to the world. Once a vital link between islands, it's being renovated to become a walking trail leading to Pigeon Key, a pocket-sized island .