Courtney Campbell Causeway History
History of the Courtney Campbell Causeway
The Courtney Campbell Causeway began serving as a crucial link between Tampa and Clearwater in 1934, after being built as a two-lane private toll road by Ben T. Davis. Today more than 50,000 cars traverse the highway daily. The Causeway was designated a Florida Scenic Highway in 2005 due to its scenic vistas, uncluttered views of the Bay area’s beautiful sunsets, and thoughtful management by a dedicated corps of local governments, the Florida Department of Transportation and private entities.
The 75th Anniversary of the opening of the Courtney Campbell Causeway and the unveiling of the newly reinstalled Historical Marker was held on Thursday, June 25th, 2009. Members of the Courtney Campbell Scenic Highway Corridor Advisory Committee were in attendance, as well as elected officials and their representatives, members of the media, and the general public. Following the unveiling of the Historical Marker, a reception was held at the nearby Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay.
Media Coverage of the 75th Anniversary Celebration
Selected documents related to the Courtney Campbell Causeway (archived news articles, etc.)
- A Long Overdue Barrier Along the Parkway (Clearwater Sun, undated)
- Barriers Planned to Tame Killer Road (Clearwater Sun, 5/8/1985)
- Ben T. Davis note (7/3/1934)
- Ben T’s Grandson Sticks to His Dream (Clearwater Sun, 12/11/1979)
- Causeway Span Closed to Boats (2/24/1959)
- Causeway to be Named for Courtney Campbell (1/5/1948)
- Chamber Takes Fence Objection to State (Clearwater Sun, 5/9/1986)
- Courtney Campbell Biographical Info (Biographical Directory of the U.S. Congress)
- Davis Causeway Bill for Builder (4/13/1973)
- Davis Causeway Toll Rates (undated)
- Dividers Make Killer Causeway Safer in Pinellas (3/31/1988)
- Excerpt from Clearwater: A Pictorial History (1983)
- Genial George Davis Home Anxious to See Friends (Tampa Daily Times, 8/2/1949)
- How to Get Justice for Granddaddy’s Brothers (Orlando Sentinel, 4/23/1972)
- Old Tampa Bay Troubled Waters (Clearwater Sun, 3/17/1971)
- Parkway Barrier Selected (Clearwater Sun, 7/2/1986)
- Parkway Plan is Improvement (Clearwater Sun, 12/30/1969)
- Parkway Will Be Widened in 1978 (9/21/1977)
- Restore Builders Name to Davis Causeway (Tampa Tribune, 3/29/1972)
- Will It Be Davis Causeway Again? (Tampa Times, 12/14/1971)
- Work to Begin on Campbell Parkway (8/3/1987)
