Cudjoe Key in Monroe County, Florida — The American South (South Atlantic)
State Road 4A
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, September 18, 2018
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 and the Florida Department of State. (Marker Number F-901.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Roads & Vehicles. A significant historical year for this entry is 1928.
Location. 24° 39.85′ N, 81° 30.521′ W. Marker is in Cudjoe Key, Florida, in Monroe County. Marker is on Oversea Highway (U.S. 1) 0.1 miles west of Drost Drive, on the right when traveling south. Located at the Northwest entrance of the trail. A duplicate marker can be found on Summerland Key. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: 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).
Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.
Photographed By Tim Fillmon, September 18, 2018
2. State Road 4A Marker and entrance to the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 20, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 16, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. This page has been viewed 461 times since then and 59 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on December 16, 2018, by Tim Fillmon of Webster, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
