Causeway

Ernest Kouwen-Hoven, a land developer and promoter of Indialantic-by-the-Sea in 1918-19, recognized that a bridge from the mainland to the peninsula was necessary for the seaside town to become a resort-residential community. He hired local carpenters, established saw mills in various parts of the county, and built the first narrow wooden bridge across the Indian River in 1919. Completed in 1921, it was 16 feet wide, and its steel draw was operated by hand, taking a total of 14 minutes to open and close. Kouwen-Hoven charged motorists a toll of 10 cents to use the bridge and enforced a speed limit of 10 MPH. In 1947, the first concrete and steel bridge with causeway was completed, and the old wooden bridge was torn down.

Melbourne, Florida · United States