Construction on Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail

 

BY JOHN ANDOLA

NEWS WRITER

 

In 1997 Gov. Lawton Chiles appointed a task force to examine the possibility of making portions of the old railroad bridges in the Keys available for fishing. That effort was not only successful, but it also led to establishment of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. Several state and local agencies are working together to construct a 106.5-mile bicycle and walking trail from Key West to Key Largo.

 

The Heritage Trail features more than 70 miles of existing trail and much of the remaining trail is now in design or under construction by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and is funded by the Florida Department of Transportation through a federal grant program for alternative transportation. A major challenge has been balancing construction with the needs of motorists, businesses and trail users. (Key Westers know a bit about that!)

 

Paralleling U.S. 1, which is designated as a National Scenic Highway and All-American Road, this recreational pathway incorporates 23 of the historic Flagler Railroad bridges, offering a scenic venue for hiking, running, bicycling, skating, sightseeing, fishing and kayaking. Unfortunately, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Department of Transportation had to close four of the historic bridges for safety reasons in late March. Those bridges that were closed are the Ohio-Missouri, Ohio-Bahia Honda, Missouri-Little Duck and Lower Sugarloaf, which comprise a portion of the Heritage Trail.

 

Currently the longest, continuous section of paved trail is located in the Upper Keys between Mile Marker 106 at Key Largo through MM 72 at Islamorada, Village of Islands.  Someone traveling the entire length of the 106.5-mile trail would have to cross the highway 18 times, eight from trail segment to trail segment and 10 from trail segment to U.S. 1 bridge segment to trail segment.

 

Heritage Trail management has trail counters that collect information on how many people are using the trails. It’s estimated that more than 2 million residents and visitors utilize some segment of the trail annually.

 

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULED FOR 2012-2014: Lower Sugarloaf to Summerland Key (MM 16.5-25.5).

 

CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULED FOR 2014-2015: Spanish Harbor to Seven Mile Bridge (MM 30-40), Windly Key (MM 84.2-85.2), Kemp Channel Historic Bridge Span Replacements (MM 23.5), Lower Sugarloaf Trail Extension (MM 15.7-16.5), Spanish Harbor Historic Bridge Retrofit (MM 33).

 

CONSTRUCTION COMPLETED: Baypoint to Sugarloaf Key (MM 14.9-15.7), Channel 2 Historic Bridge Fishing Platforms (MM 73), Chanel 5 Historic Bridge to Tailgate Road (MM 70.8-73.6), Ramrod to Big Pine Key (MM 26.2-30.5), Long Key Bridge Retrofit and Fishing Platforms (MM 63.1-65.3), Bow Channel Historic Bridge Retrofit (MM 20.2-20.5), Tom’s Harbor Cut Fishing Platforms (MM 61.5-61.7), Park Channel Historic Bridge Retrofit (MM 18.7-18.8), Tom’s Harbor Channel Fishing Platforms (MM 60.5-62), Saddlebunch Keys Bridges and Trail (MM 12-15), Grassy Key (MM-59.9-65.6), Layton to Channel 5 Bridges and Trail (MM 68.4-70.8), Marathon Trail and Safety Improvements (MM 47-54), Key Haven to Big Coppitt (MM 5.2-11)

 

CONSTRUCTION DESIGNED OR IN DESIGN: Key Largo Trailhead (MM 106.5), Key Largo Trailhead Mitigation Monitoring and Reporting (MM 106.5), Grassy Key (MM 58.2-60.5), Knights Key Underpass and ADA Improvements (MM 47), South Pine Channel Historic Bridge full retrofit (MM 28.5), Niles Channel Historic Bridge Failure Restoration (MM 26), Key West Botanical Garden Trailhead (MM 4.2), Craig (Duck) Key to Long Key (MM 60.5-63.1).

 

The trail offers access to many points of interest and ecological resources throughout the Keys, including the Everglades National Park, Biscayne National Park, Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary, The Great White Heron National Wildlife Refuge, Key Weed National Birdlife Refuge, Crocodile Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, Key West National Marine Sanctuary, as well as 10 state parks.

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