Thomas A. Johnson Bridge
The Thomas A. Johnson Bridge (often called the Old Pensacola Bay Bridge) was the first bridge to span the three-miles of Pensacola Bay between Pensacola and Gulf Breeze. It was built for $2.5 million by the Pensacola Bridge Corporation and opened on June 13, 1931 — simultaneously with the original Pensacola Beach Bridge over Santa Rosa Sound and the Casino resort on Pensacola Beach.
It was a bascule bridge and featured a double-leaf design that could be raised by electric motor for large ships. Motorists were charged a $5 monthly toll.
The bridge was renamed in 1948 to honor Thomas A. Johnson, who was responsible for removing the toll.
With the opening of the wider Phillip Dane Beall Sr. Memorial Bridge on August 10, 1962, the old bridge was converted to a fishing pier. After being damaged in 2004 by Hurricane Ivan, the remnants of the bridge were designated to be sunk as an artificial reef.
