Summerland Key in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
State Road 4A
Photographed By Jay Kravetz, September 25, 2016
1. State Road 4A Marker
Inscription.
State Road 4A. . The first Overseas Highway, also known as State Road 4A (SR 4A), consisted of two roadway segments both completed by 1928. One spanned from Key West to No Name Key, and the other from Key Largo to Upper Matecumbe Key. Ferries transported cars between the segments. The roads were constructed of local rock and marl. In the 1930s, World War I veterans were sent as part of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration to work on bridges to close the gap, but construction was cut short when the 1935 Labor Day hurricane claimed the lives of more than 400 workers and their families. The catastrophe sparked debate over whether to rebuild the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway or the highway. Monroe County opted for the highway, and the railway’s Bahia Honda Bridge was converted for automotive use. In 1938, a toll road linked Lower Matecumbe to Big Pine Keys and created the first continuous road from Miami to Key West. During World War II, the Overseas Highway moved from SR 4A to a new alignment using the FEC’s straighter route. The new highway connected with US 1 and most of SR 4A was abandoned or became local streets. The section of SR 4A located north of this point, is part of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.
The first Overseas Highway, also known as State Road 4A (SR 4A), consisted of two roadway segments both completed by 1928. One spanned from Key West to No Name Key, and the other from Key Largo to Upper Matecumbe Key. Ferries transported cars between the segments. The roads were constructed of local rock and marl. In the 1930s, World War I veterans were sent as part of the Federal Emergency Relief Administration to work on bridges to close the gap, but construction was cut short when the 1935 Labor Day hurricane claimed the lives of more than 400 workers and their families. The catastrophe sparked debate over whether to rebuild the Florida East Coast (FEC) Railway or the highway. Monroe County opted for the highway, and the railway’s Bahia Honda Bridge was converted for automotive use. In 1938, a toll road linked Lower Matecumbe to Big Pine Keys and created the first continuous road from Miami to Key West. During World War II, the Overseas Highway moved from SR 4A to a new alignment using the FEC’s straighter route. The new highway connected with US 1 and most of SR 4A was abandoned or became local streets. The section of SR 4A located north of this point, is part of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.
Erected 2016 by Florida Department of Transportation, Florida Department of Environmental
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Protection. (Marker Number F-901.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.
Location. 24° 39.696′ N, 81° 26.804′ W. Marker is in Summerland Key, Florida, in Monroe County. Marker is on Overseas Highway (U.S. 1) 0.2 miles south of Horace Street, on the right when traveling south. The marker is adjacent to the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 24700 Overseas Hwy, Summerland Key FL 33042, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 1 other marker is within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. A different marker also named State Road 4A (approx. 3.9 miles away).
Photographed By Jay Kravetz, September 25, 2016
2. State Road 4A Marker
Photographed By Jay Kravetz, September 25, 2016
3. State Road 4A Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2017. It was originally submitted on August 15, 2017, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 326 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on August 15, 2017, by Jay Kravetz of West Palm Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
