Jewfish Creek Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Jewfish Creek Bridge is a bridge in the Florida Keys
. Spanning both Jewfish Creek and Lake Surprise, it carries the Overseas Highway
(U.S. 1
) between the Florida Keys
and the Florida mainland.
The current structure, which opened in 2008, is 65 feet tall. It carries two lanes separated by a Jersey barrier
. Due to the height of the bridge, it bypasses the land between Jewfish Creek and Lake Surprise, which is home to many businesses. The bridge features exit ramps off of the main bridge that provide access to these businesses. Unlike most bridges in Florida, the bridge was painted with a light blue color.
The current span opened on May 22, 2008, replacing a small drawbridge
spanning Jewfish creek, which had been in operation since 1944. The drawbridge was notorious for causing major traffic delays along the Overseas Highway. The span also replaced the Lake Surprise Causeway, since it spans both bodies of water due to its height. Exit ramps connect the new bridge with the land between Jewfish Creek and Lake Surprise.
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
. Spanning both Jewfish Creek and Lake Surprise, it carries the Overseas Highway
Overseas Highway
The Overseas Highway is a highway carrying U.S. Route 1 through the Florida Keys. Large parts of it were built on the former right-of-way of the Overseas Railroad, the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway. Completed in 1912, the Overseas Railroad was heavily damaged and partially...
(U.S. 1
U.S. Route 1
U.S. Route 1 is a major north–south U.S. Highway that serves the East Coast of the United States. It runs 2,377 miles from Fort Kent, Maine at the Canadian border south to Key West, Florida. U.S. 1 generally parallels Interstate 95, though it is significantly farther west between...
) between the Florida Keys
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are a coral archipelago in southeast United States. They begin at the southeastern tip of the Florida peninsula, about south of Miami, and extend in a gentle arc south-southwest and then westward to Key West, the westernmost of the inhabited islands, and on to the uninhabited Dry...
and the Florida mainland.
The current structure, which opened in 2008, is 65 feet tall. It carries two lanes separated by a Jersey barrier
Jersey barrier
A Jersey barrier or Jersey wall is a modular concrete barrier employed to separate lanes of traffic. It is designed to both minimize vehicle damage in cases of incidental contact while still preventing crossover in the case of head-on accidents....
. Due to the height of the bridge, it bypasses the land between Jewfish Creek and Lake Surprise, which is home to many businesses. The bridge features exit ramps off of the main bridge that provide access to these businesses. Unlike most bridges in Florida, the bridge was painted with a light blue color.
The current span opened on May 22, 2008, replacing a small drawbridge
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
spanning Jewfish creek, which had been in operation since 1944. The drawbridge was notorious for causing major traffic delays along the Overseas Highway. The span also replaced the Lake Surprise Causeway, since it spans both bodies of water due to its height. Exit ramps connect the new bridge with the land between Jewfish Creek and Lake Surprise.