Boca Grande Causeway, Road bridge in Charlotte County, Florida.
The Boca Grande Causeway is a road bridge in Charlotte County, Florida that spans about 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) across Gasparilla Sound. The structure consists of three separate bridge sections that connect mainland Florida to Gasparilla Island.
Construction of the causeway took place between 1952 and 1958, replacing the former ferry service that had transported visitors to the island. This project marked an important shift from water-based to road-based transportation for this coastal region.
The causeway runs alongside preserved railway trestles from the Charlotte Harbor & Northern Railway, showing how transportation methods evolved in this Florida coastal area. Visitors walking or driving can see these older structures and notice how the region shifted from rail to road travel.
Vehicles must pay a toll to access the island, with different rates depending on the vehicle type. The drive across is relatively brief, but conditions can vary depending on weather and tidal flow patterns.
The northern section features a swing bridge spanning about 213 feet (65 meters) over the navigation channel, making it one of the few operational swing bridges in Florida. This moving structure is a rare engineering feature that visitors might observe while crossing.
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