Railroad magnate Henry Flagler's historic Seven Mile Bridge will soon become a more welcoming spot to watch the Florida Key sunsets for tourists of all abilities.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has authorized a $1.16 million plan to improve access to the Old Seven Mile Bridge in Marathon Key with a ramp that will run along an existing stairwell beneath the new bridge.
The project is in addition to an agreement reached at the end of last year for a $77.5 million upgrade to a 2.2-mile portion of the old bridge that connects to Pigeon Key. Pigeon Key was once the headquarters for the construction of Flagler's railroad. The railroad helped turn south Florida into a vacation destination and trade route in the beginning of the 20th century.