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Marker to honor Courtney Campbell Causeway's 75th year

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By CHIP OSOWSKI | News Channel 8

Published: June 25, 2009

Every day, more than 50,000 motorists drive the Courtney Campbell Causeway, but it's safe to say most don't know how the causeway got here and why it's considered one of the most scenic roads in the Tampa Bay area.

The causeway first opened as the Davis Causeway in 1934. Ben T. Davis owned a dredging company -- and when work was slow he worked on the causeway.

He wanted to shorten the distance from Tampa to Pinellas County. At that time, the Gandy Bridge was the only other bridge that would get you there.

In 1948 the state renamed the causeway after Courtney Campbell -- a Florida road board member and U.S. congressman from Clearwater.

The causeway opened 75 years ago and today, officials with the Department of Transportation unveiled a newly re-installed historical marker.

Over the years, the causeway has seen many changes. At one time, adult clubs lined the northern portion of the roadway … now all those establishments are gone and the causeway is now labeled as a scenic highway.

For those who want to attend the unveiling, there will be parking at the Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, 2900 Bayport Dr., Tampa. The Clearwater Jolley Trolley will be available at the Hyatt to take guests to the south side of the Causeway east of Rocky Point Road where the rededication of the historic marker and unveiling will occur. For more information about the Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway Corridor Advisory Committee please visit www.courtneycampbell.org.

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