A bridge in his honor
Monday, November 21, 2005
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Bob Graham served as governor of Florida from 1979-87. |
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge has a new name.
The Florida Legislature renamed it the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge on Monday in honor of Florida's former governor. Graham spearheaded the drive to build a new, spectacular span after a cargo ship crashed into the old bridge in 1980, causing 1,200 feet of the bridge to collapse, and sending 35 people to their deaths.
"It was a very, very sad day for Florida," said Graham, who was governor when the tragedy happened.
Graham says there was a strong push to repair the bridge after the accident, but he felt the incident proved the bridge wasn't safe, and a taller, stronger bridge should be built. Therefore, he worked to secure funding, and in 1982, construction began on the picturesque bridge.
The state-of-the-art design should keep a tragedy like this from happening again.
The bridge collapsed in 1980. |
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"I hope those who gave their lives feel they did not do so in vain," said Graham. "That the new bridge is in part a memorial for them."
Monday's ceremony was at the North Skyway Park rest area just south of the Pinellas toll booth.
There's also a school in Miami-Dade County and a beach in Stuart named after Graham.
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