- Eau Gallie Causeway
Infobox Bridge
bridge_name = Eau Gallie Causeway
caption = Eau Gallie Causeway
official_name =
carries = Cars & Trucks
crosses = Indian River
locale = Eau Gallie & Indian Harbour Beach
lanes = 4 lanes
maint =
id =
design =
mainspan =
length =
width =
height =
load =
clearance =
below =
traffic =
begin =
complete = 1988
open =
closed =
toll =
map_cue =
map_
map_text =
map_width =
coordinates =
lat =
long =The Eau Gallie Causeway connects
Eau Gallie, Florida (which merged with Melbourne in 1969), with SR A1A near Indian Harbour Beach, across theIndian River Lagoon . Located entirely within the Melbourne city limits, the causeway consists of a main bridge crossing over theIntracoastal Waterway and arelief bridge . The bridge is a key link in SR 518, Eau Gallie Boulevard, of which the causeway is a part.History
In 1925, construction began on the first wooden bridge across the
Indian River Lagoon . On February 22, 1926, George Washington's Birthday, the bridge opened to traffic. The bridge connected to a sand trail that led to Canova Beach. At this time, there was no railing on the bridge for a year after its construction. There are no records that anyone fell off the bridge during this time. In 1944 a 200 foot section of the bridge burned.On February 22, 1955, George Washington's Birthday, a new multi-million dollar concrete bridge was dedicated to Dr. William Jackson Creel. The second Eau Gallie Causeway featured a swing span drawbridge.
The third bridge, a high-rise
causeway , was completed in 1988.Just north of the bridge, the Indian River Lagoon splits to form the Banana River Lagoon east of the southern tip of
Merritt Island, Florida . Its southern tip has been known locally as Dragon's Point since 1971 when a green dragon was built there. However, in 2002 most of the dragon collapsed into the river and was nearly destroyed.From 1945 until 1971, State Road 3 extended from Merritt Island to Melbourne over both Mathers Bridge and the Eau Gallie Causeway; after the opening of the Pineda Causeway, SR 3 was removed from the Eau Gallie Causeway, and State Road 518 has been crossing the Intracoastal Waterway over it (and connecting with Interstate 95) since then. Currently there still is a road sign indicating a junction with State Road 3 when travelling east, immediately before the intersection with South Patrick Drive.
References
*Melbourne Bicentennial Book. July 4, 1976. Noreda B. McKemy and Elaine Murray Stone. Library of Congress: 76-020298
* [http://www.roadstothefuture.com/Florida_Trip.html Road Trip to Florida]External links
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