Looking west from the Spanish Harbor Channel Bridge, where there's another bridge in the distance. FL 4A is the only access to No Name Key (to the right), connecting to US 1 via Key Deer Blvd. on Big Pine Key (to the left).


Yes, I mentioned Key Deer. Oh, and Speed Kills. You get it. Key deer are to regular deer what key limes are to regular limes - smaller, you don't know the difference unless you're an expert, and they taste great. For an endangered species, that is.


Southbound across the Spanish Channel bridge from West Summerland Key to Big Pine Key, looking west the whole way at the original channel crossing that carried railroad traffic before it was retrofitted for automobiles. I guess FDOT removed the southern span so people couldn't go walking out on the bridge, but I don't see why not. They also removed the railings as if to justify it. That center stripe begs to be walked along.


NB views starting from Big Pine Key. I'm very jealous of those birds.


The southern end of the Bahia Honda Bridge taken by J.P. Nasiatka, disconnected in 1983 for the newer one to the left. This is the last remaining bridge from the original Florida East Coast Railway across the Keys. Those bridges couldn't support two-way vehicular traffic, so the roadway was laid above the truss instead of through it. Hey, it's a sound engineering solution, and looks cool to boot.


Where the old US 1 alignment diverged from the modern one, which is a four-lane twin span bridge (nothing fancy, though). USGS topographical maps show that the current bridges were under construction in 1980.


US 1 NB on West Summerland Key (the tie between the two bridges on this page) approaching the Bahia Honda Bridge.


I think this qualifies as a Scenic Highway, no?


Notice that the bridge is labeled, like the bridges on Hawai`i's Road to Hana.


Driving north alongside the bridge. I didn't get a chance to stop at the northern end, but I think it's worth it if you're down here, even though the long center spans of the bridge are off-limits (a span on either side has been removed to prevent access). Because when will you be back? Driving the Overseas Highway once is painful enough. Having to drive back is about all you really want to stand.


Southbound views of the unique bridge.

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US 1 in the Keys main page
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