The Overseas Highway is a famous and iconic roadway in the Florida Keys, United States. It is a section of U.S. Route 1 (US 1) that stretches approximately 113 miles (182 kilometers) from the southern tip of the Florida mainland in Homestead to Key West, the southernmost city in the continental United States.
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The Overseas Highway is renowned for its stunning views of the crystal-clear waters of the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, as well as its numerous bridges and causeways that connect the various islands of the Florida Keys. One of the most notable features of this highway is the Seven Mile Bridge, which is one of the longest bridges in the United States and offers breathtaking panoramas of the surrounding seascape.
The construction of the Overseas Highway was a remarkable engineering feat, as it involved repurposing parts of the Overseas Railroad, which had been severely damaged by a hurricane in 1935. The highway project, overseen by the Florida State Road Department, began in the 1930s and was completed in the 1940s. It opened up the Florida Keys to tourism and significantly improved transportation to the region.
Today, the Overseas Highway is a popular tourist route, drawing visitors from around the world who come to enjoy the tropical scenery, recreational activities such as fishing and snorkeling, and the laid-back atmosphere of the Florida Keys. It's also an essential transportation artery for residents of the Keys and an important route for goods and services to reach the islands. The Overseas Highway is not just a road; it's a symbol of Florida's connection to its beautiful and unique island chain.