Bahia Honda Rail Bridge

Bahia Honda Rail Bridge
View of the Bahia Honda Bridge from Bahia Honda State Park.
Carries	Single track of Florida East Coast Railway
Crosses	Bahia Honda Channel
Locale	Bahia Honda Key and Spanish Harbor Key
Design	Simple truss bridge, with plate girder approaches
Opened	1912, converted to highway use in 1938
Coordinates	24.65520°N 81.29253°W / 24.65520; -81.29253

The Bahia Honda Rail Bridge is a scenic bridge in the lower Florida Keys connecting Bahia Honda Key with Spanish Harbor Key. Originally part of the Overseas Railway, the State of Florida purchased it after the 1935 Labor Day Hurricane and converted it to provide automobile use as part of the Overseas Highway in 1938. After a replacement Bahia Honda Bridge was opened in 1972, two sections of the Rail Bridge were removed, but the rest remain standing.

History

It was originally built by Henry Flagler as part of the Overseas Railroad which was completed in 1912. It was converted for highway use in 1938 after the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935.

Today, the former bridge provides a scenic overview of the area for tourists. Two of the truss spans have been removed in order to facilitate boat traffic. The bridge has fallen into a state of disrepair and signs have been posted on the bridge warning boat traffic to watch for falling debris.

The bridge as seen from Spanish Harbor Key   The bridge as seen from Bahia Honda Key