Melbourne Causeway
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The Melbourne Causeway is located entirely within
Brevard County Brevard County ( ) is a county located in the east central portion of the U.S. state of Florida. As of the 2020 census, the population was 606,612, making it the 10th-most populated county in Florida. The official county seat is located in T ...
,
Florida Florida is a state located in the Southeastern region of the United States. Florida is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the northwest by Alabama, to the north by Georgia, to the east by the Bahamas and Atlantic Ocean, and to ...
in the
United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...
. It is composed of three bridges and connects the municipalities of
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
and Indialantic across the
Indian River Lagoon The Indian River Lagoon is a grouping of three lagoons: the Mosquito Lagoon, the Banana River, and the Indian River, on the Atlantic Coast of Florida; one of the most biodiverse estuaries in the Northern Hemisphere and is home to more than 4,300 ...
in Brevard County. The causeway is part of U.S. 192 (also known as SR 500), whose eastern terminus is located approximately east of the bridge, at SR A1A. East of the bridge, the road is known locally as Fifth Avenue. On the western side, the road continues through downtown Melbourne as Strawbridge Avenue. Each July 4 the bridge is closed for a fireworks show. There are two bridges in Melbourne, the Melbourne Causeway and the
Eau Gallie Causeway The Eau Gallie Causeway connects Eau Gallie, Florida (which merged with Melbourne, Florida, Melbourne in 1969), with State Road A1A (Florida), SR A1A near Indian Harbour Beach, Florida, Indian Harbour Beach, across the Indian River Lagoon. Located ...
(
SR 518 Route 518, or Highway 518, may refer to: Canada *Manitoba Provincial Road 518 * Ontario Highway 518 United Kingdom * A518 road United States * Florida State Road 518 * County Road 518 (Pasco County, Florida) * Louisiana Highway 518 * Mary ...
) With the latter being named for the old city of Eau Gallie, which merged with Melbourne in 1969.


History


First bridge

Ernest Kouwen-Hoven began construction of the second bridge across the Indian River in 1919. The first bridge was completed 2 years earlier near
Cocoa, Florida Cocoa is a city in Brevard County, Florida, Brevard County, Florida. The population was 19,041 at the 2020 United States Census. It is part of the Palm Bay, Florida, Palm Bay–Melbourne, Florida, Melbourne–Titusville, Florida, Titusvil ...
. By May 1921 the bridge was complete and unofficially opened as a toll bridge. It was or nearly long (3 kilometers). Approximately 1/3 of the way from Melbourne there was a hand-operated draw. On September 18, 1921, the bridge officially opened. A Mr. J. E. Campbell was the first to drive across the bridge. During construction three sawmills were built by Ernest Kouwen-Hoven. They did not all exist at the same time. The first one was in Melbourne Village, the second was on the Nevin Property on
Merritt Island Merritt Island is a peninsula, commonly referred to as an island, in Brevard County, Florida, United States, located on the eastern Floridian coast, along the Atlantic Ocean. It is also the name of an unincorporated town in the central and sout ...
, and the third was west of
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.


Second bridge

The causeway between Indialantic and Melbourne was opened to traffic on August 1, 1939. The causeway consisted of fill material dredged from the bottom of the Indian River south of the causeway's location. The road surface was asphalt laid down and pressed by road rolling machines. The wooden bridge was largely replaced by the new causeway. The original bridge had a rotating span near the western end of the causeway to permit boat traffic to pass through and was operated by a person in a small shelter directly on the rotating section. In the following paragraph it appears that the author is referring to the replacement of the rotating draw span. In 1941, construction began on the second bridge between
Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...
and Indialantic. This bridge was a low-rise swing draw bridge. On August 1, 1947, Mrs. Ernest Kouwen-Hoven cut the ribbon and the same J. E. Campbell that crossed the first bridge, was the first to cross this bridge.


Third bridge

The third bridge contains two twin spans that are long. According to the ''Melbourne Centennial Book'' the official start of construction was February 2, 1976, and the bridge was expected to be complete by fall of 1977. It appears to have been delayed with the westbound span being constructed in 1977 and ending 2 years later. From bridge id numbers, it appears that the western relief bridges were also constructed during this time. Construction of the eastbound span did not begin until 1981 and finished in 1984.


Component bridges


Ernest Kouwen-Hoven Memorial Bridge

The Ernest Kouwen-Hoven Memorial Bridge is the official name of the high-rise span, officially dedicated by the State of Florida Legislature on 28 May 1978. This name is not used locally, and only appears in official government documents.


Relief bridges

These bridges are unremarkable, and have no appreciable change in grade. The easternmost relief bridge is commonly used by local fishermen.


Sources


Bridge ID's


Town of Indialantic Meeting Minutes September 14, 2005Contract Bidding Information for main-span work


Bridge length


Florida Geographical Data Library
** Search under Transportation Networks, "Bridges" retrieve "RCI Bridges". Data retrieved by using modified shp2text program.


Original bridge length




Bridge history


Brevard County Historical Commission - Indian River Journal Quarterly - Fall 2002
*Melbourne Centennial Book. Melbourne Chamber of Commerce. 1980


Kiwanis Park at Geiger Point

At the base of the causeway on the western side is the Kiwanis Park at Geiger Point, a 7-acre community park managed by the Brevard County Parks & Recreation.


References

{{coord, 28.086, -80.587, type:landmark_region:US-FL, display=title Buildings and structures in Melbourne, Florida Bridges in Brevard County, Florida Bridges completed in 1921 Bridges completed in 1941 Bridges completed in 1979 Bridges completed in 1984 Bridges over the Indian River (Florida) Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System Causeways in Florida Former toll bridges in Florida U.S. Route 92 Indian River Lagoon Road bridges in Florida Swing bridges in the United States Concrete bridges in the United States