Eau Gallie Causeway
Encyclopedia
The Eau Gallie Causeway connects Eau Gallie, Florida
(which merged with Melbourne
in 1969), with SR A1A
near Indian Harbour Beach
, across the Indian River Lagoon
. Located entirely within the Melbourne city limits, the causeway consists of a main bridge crossing over the Intracoastal Waterway
and a relief bridge. The bridge is a key link in SR 518, Eau Gallie Boulevard, of which the causeway is a part.
. On February 22, 1926, George Washington's Birthday, the bridge opened to traffic. The bridge connected to a sand trail that led to Canova Beach. At this time, there was no railing on the bridge for a year after its construction. There are no records that anyone fell off the bridge during this time. In 1944 a 200 foot section of the bridge burned.
On February 22, 1955, George Washington's Birthday, a new multi-million dollar concrete bridge was dedicated to Dr. William Jackson Creel
. The second Eau Gallie Causeway featured a swing span drawbridge
.
The third bridge, a high-rise causeway
, was completed in 1988.
Just north of the bridge, the Indian River Lagoon
splits to form the Banana River Lagoon
east of the southern tip of Merritt Island, Florida
. Its southern tip has been known locally as Dragon's Point since 1971 when a green dragon
was built there. However, in 2002 most of the dragon collapsed into the river and was nearly destroyed.
From 1945 until 1971, State Road 3
extended from Merritt Island to Melbourne over both Mathers Bridge and the Eau Gallie Causeway; after the opening of the Pineda Causeway
, SR 3 was removed from the Eau Gallie Causeway, and State Road 518
has been crossing the Intracoastal Waterway over it (and connecting with Interstate 95
) since then. Currently there still is a road sign indicating a junction with State Road 3
when travelling east, immediately before the intersection with South Patrick Drive.
Eau Gallie, Florida
Eau Gallie was a city in Brevard County, Florida from 1857 until 1969 when citizens voted to merge with neighboring Melbourne, Florida. It is now a small district in the north part of the city, near the Eau Gallie Causeway. William Henry Gleason founded the city. From 1874 to 1878 it served as the...
(which merged with Melbourne
Melbourne, Florida
Melbourne is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. As of 2009, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 78,323. The municipal area is the second largest by size and by population in the county. Melbourne is a principal city of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida...
in 1969), with SR A1A
State Road A1A (Florida)
State Road A1A is a Florida State Road that runs mostly along the Atlantic Ocean, with sections from Key West at the southern tip of Florida, to Callahan, just south of Georgia. It is the main road through most oceanfront towns. SR A1A is designated the A1A Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway, a...
near Indian Harbour Beach
Indian Harbour Beach, Florida
Indian Harbour Beach is a city in Brevard County, Florida, United States. The population was 8,152 at the 2000 census. As of 2005, the population estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau is 8,441...
, across the Indian River Lagoon
Indian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. It was originally named Rio de Ais after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida....
. Located entirely within the Melbourne city limits, the causeway consists of a main bridge crossing over the Intracoastal Waterway
Intracoastal Waterway
The Intracoastal Waterway is a 3,000-mile waterway along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the United States. Some lengths consist of natural inlets, salt-water rivers, bays, and sounds; others are artificial canals...
and a relief bridge. The bridge is a key link in SR 518, Eau Gallie Boulevard, of which the causeway is a part.
History
In 1925, construction began on the first wooden bridge across the Indian River LagoonIndian River Lagoon
The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: Mosquito Lagoon, Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida. It was originally named Rio de Ais after the Ais Indian tribe, who lived along the east coast of Florida....
. On February 22, 1926, George Washington's Birthday, the bridge opened to traffic. The bridge connected to a sand trail that led to Canova Beach. At this time, there was no railing on the bridge for a year after its construction. There are no records that anyone fell off the bridge during this time. In 1944 a 200 foot section of the bridge burned.
On February 22, 1955, George Washington's Birthday, a new multi-million dollar concrete bridge was dedicated to Dr. William Jackson Creel
William Jackson Creel
Dr. William Jackson Creel came to Eau Gallie, Florida in 1910. He was the trustee, along with William H. H. Gleason of the Eau Gallie School and Eau Gallie Junior and Senior High School. Dr. W. J. Creel Elementary School, in the Eau Gallie area of Melbourne, Florida, is named after him. In 1955,...
. The second Eau Gallie Causeway featured a swing span drawbridge
Swing bridge
A swing bridge is a movable bridge that has as its primary structural support a vertical locating pin and support ring, usually at or near to its centre of gravity, about which the turning span can then pivot horizontally as shown in the animated illustration to the right...
.
The third bridge, a high-rise causeway
Causeway
In modern usage, a causeway is a road or railway elevated, usually across a broad body of water or wetland.- Etymology :When first used, the word appeared in a form such as “causey way” making clear its derivation from the earlier form “causey”. This word seems to have come from the same source by...
, was completed in 1988.
Just north of the bridge, the Indian River Lagoon
Indian River (Florida)
The Indian River is a waterway in Florida, a part of the Indian River Lagoon system which forms the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway. It extends southward from the Ponce de Leon inlet in New Smyrna Beach, Florida [Volusia County] southward and across the "Haulover Canal" and along the western shore...
splits to form the Banana River Lagoon
Banana River
The Banana River is a lagoon that lies between Cape Canaveral and Merritt Island in Brevard County, Florida in the United States. It is part of the Indian River Lagoon system, and connects at its south end to the Indian River; it is the only part of the lagoon system not in the Intracoastal...
east of the southern tip of Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island, Florida
Merritt Island is a census-designated place in Brevard County, Florida, United States. It is located on the east coast of the state on the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2000 census, the population was 36,090. It is part of the Palm Bay – Melbourne – Titusville, Florida Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. Its southern tip has been known locally as Dragon's Point since 1971 when a green dragon
Merritt Island Dragon
The Merritt Island Dragon was a dragon-shaped green cement structure that stood at the southern tip of Merritt Island where the Indian River Lagoon splits to form the Banana River Lagoon. The dragon was built circa 1971 by Florida artist Louis Van DerCar and property owner Aynn Christal. This...
was built there. However, in 2002 most of the dragon collapsed into the river and was nearly destroyed.
From 1945 until 1971, State Road 3
State Road 3 (Florida)
State Road 3, also known as North Courtenay Parkway, is a north–south road serving as the southern access for the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida. The shortest of the one-digit Florida State Roads, its southern terminus is an intersection with SR 520 on Merritt Island, east...
extended from Merritt Island to Melbourne over both Mathers Bridge and the Eau Gallie Causeway; after the opening of the Pineda Causeway
State Road 404 (Florida)
State Road 404 , the Pineda Causeway, is an east–west divided highway currently running from Interstate 95 to SR A1A at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, US. It was opened as a toll road in 1971 and classified as a state road two years later. The tolls were removed in 1990. It was named...
, SR 3 was removed from the Eau Gallie Causeway, and State Road 518
State Road 518 (Florida)
State Road 518, also called Eau Gallie Boulevard, is a short but major east–west highway with a western terminus at Interstate 95 on the Florida mainland, crossing the Indian River via the Eau Gallie Causeway , and having its eastern terminus at SR A1A...
has been crossing the Intracoastal Waterway over it (and connecting with Interstate 95
Interstate 95 in Florida
Interstate 95 is the main Interstate Highway on the east coast of the United States; it serves the Atlantic coast of Florida. It begins at a partial interchange with U.S. Highway 1 just south of downtown Miami, and heads north past Daytona Beach and Jacksonville to the Georgia state line at the St...
) since then. Currently there still is a road sign indicating a junction with State Road 3
State Road 3 (Florida)
State Road 3, also known as North Courtenay Parkway, is a north–south road serving as the southern access for the Kennedy Space Center near Cape Canaveral, Florida. The shortest of the one-digit Florida State Roads, its southern terminus is an intersection with SR 520 on Merritt Island, east...
when travelling east, immediately before the intersection with South Patrick Drive.