Old 7-mile bridge in the Florida Keys is back, and you can use it. Here’s what to know
Headed to the Florida Keys? You likely have plenty of plans — beaches, boating, fishing. Maybe a pub crawl in Key West.
But here is one extraordinary spot worth a stop or a special excursion.
The Old Seven Mile Bridge, right off the Overseas Highway, is rich in history. And the views of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico are beyond breathtaking.
Plus, you can walk on it.
A stretch of what Keys local people call “Old Seven,” in the Middle Keys city of Marathon, has reopened to pedestrians and cyclists after it was closed to the public in July 2016 so the state could embark on a $41 million renovation.
Keys leaders gathered at the bridge on Wednesday to celebrate the refurbished 2.2-mile span. Monroe County kicked in $2.7 million for the project, with the state funding the rest, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
“This bridge is recognized worldwide,” said Monroe County Mayor David Rice. “There are so many people throughout the country and across the world who are going to be pleased when they find out once again they can walk the Old Seven Mile Bridge. It has been awhile.”
Here’s what you need to know to check it out for yourself.
What is the Old Seven Mile Bridge?
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.
A 2.2-mile span of the retired “Old Seven” links Marathon and Pigeon Key, a tiny island tucked beneath the old bridge that was once home to about 400 workers who built the railroad.
The two Seven Mile bridges run alongside each other in Marathon.
The “old” bridge was completed in 1912 for the Key West extension of Henry Flagler’s Florida East Coast Railway. It was converted to automobile use in 1938, three years after the Labor Day hurricane of 1935 wiped out the Keys section of the railroad.
The old bridge is also a movie star, most famous for its role in the 1994 Arnold Schwarzenegger blockbuster “True Lies,” and the 1989 James Bond film, “License To Kill.”
Another stretch of the old bridge is home to a tree nicknamed Fred, which locals decorate for Christmas each year. These days, you can spot Fred the Tree next to a sign that reads, “Keys Strong.”
And the gap in the old bridge, obviously making it off limits to cars these days, is where for decades a boxy, blue swing span allowed boaters to pass from the Atlantic to the Gulf of Mexico through the narrow Moser Channel.
Where is the old bridge?
It’s near mile marker 47 on the Overseas Highway in the city of Marathon.
If you’re headed south, it’s on your right. There is a parking lot with 35 spaces. As always with the busy Overseas Highway, take caution when making turns.
Bridge access is free, along with parking.
What can I do there? Can I fish off it?
Whether you’re exercising — on foot, bike or skates — or simply soaking up the spectacular views of the water below, you’re welcome to check out the old bridge. There are some benches, too.
No fishing is allowed, however. And vehicles are prohibited.
Why was it renovated?
By 2016, the old bridge had big problems, including decking falling apart and the railings rusting and breaking.
The Florida Department of Transportation closed it to auto traffic in 2008. A few years later, citing dangers caused by excess weight, it closed it to fishing, too. After that, only pedestrians, bicyclists and skaters were allowed.
The restoration work included structural steel and concrete repairs, along with new decking and pedestrian handrails. The path is freshly paved and painted.
This story was originally published January 13, 2022 at 6:07 AM.
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