Long Key Bridge, Railway bridge in Florida Keys, US

Long Key Bridge is a roadway crossing the Long Key Channel in Florida's Keys, connecting Long Key to Conch Key. The structure also carries water lines and telecommunications cables that serve the communities throughout this island chain.

The Long Key Viaduct was completed in 1907 by Henry Flagler as part of his Overseas Railroad, the Key West Extension of the Florida East Coast Railway, using 186 concrete arches. The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 destroyed the railroad in the upper Keys, but the viaduct itself was not heavily damaged. The state then bought the right of way and built the Overseas Highway, replacing the tracks with a two-lane concrete surface. The viaduct was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 13, 1979, and was replaced by the current bridge in 1982.

The current bridge is named after Dante B. Fascell, the U.S. Representative for the Keys from 1955 to 1993, best known for championing the creation of Biscayne National Park. The older Long Key Viaduct beside it, listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979, now carries the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail and serves as a fishing pier.

Vehicles can cross the bridge to travel between islands, and access is available year-round. Visitors should note that this is an active traffic route, so expect other vehicles during busy times.

The modern structure was built using an innovative construction method where prefabricated segments were rapidly assembled together. This technique made it possible to complete the entire bridge in less than one year.