Florida State Road 693 is an 11.63-mile State Road located entirely within Pinellas County. Florida State Road 693 begins at US Route 19 in Largo and terminates at Florida State Road 699 in St. Pete Beach. Florida State Road 693 includes the modern Corey Causeway which crosses Boca Ciega Bay. The original Corey Causeway opened during the 1930s as part of pre-1945 Florida State Road 263. The modern Corey Causeway southbound span was constructed in 1966 with the northbound span coming later during 1975.
Part 1; the history of Florida State Road 693 and Corey Causeway
Corey Causeway presently carries Florida State Road 693 over Boca Ciega Bay between the cities of South Pasadena and St. Pete Beach. The original Corey Causeway was constructed during the early 1930s as a low-level drawbridge. Corey Causeway was originally part of pre-1945 Florida State Road 263. The original Corey Causeway can be seen depicted in an undated postcard.
Florida State Road 263 originated at Florida State Road 230 in St. Petersburg at 4th Street South and 22nd Avenue South. Florida State Road 263 westbound followed 22nd Avenue West, Gulfport Road and Pass-A-Grill Avenue (now Pasadena Avenue) to Corey Causeway. Florida State Road 263 terminated upon entering St. Pete Beach via Corey Avenue. Corey Causeway can be seen as a component of Florida State Road 263 on the 1943 United States Geological Survey Maps of St. Petersburg of Pass-A-Grill.
During 1945 the Florida State Roads were renumbered from how they were legislatively adopted to a grid pattern. This action by the Florida State Road Department led to Florida State Road 263 being renumbered to Florida State Road 690. Corey Causeway can be seen as part of Florida State Road 690 on the 1948 Rand McNally Map of Florida. Florida State Road can be seen as assigned to the corridor between US Route 19 north to Florida State Road 60 along 66th Street North, 46th Avenue North and Park Street. The original corridor of Florida State Road 693 was part of pre-1945 Florida State Road 73.
At some point during the late 1950s/early 1960s 66th Street was extended to the vicinity of 2nd Avenue South. The extension of 66th Street continued as part of Florida State Road 693 via Pasadena Avenue onto Corey Causeway (leading to the deletion of Florida State Road 690). Florida State Road 693 south of US Route 19A began to be co-signed as Florida State Road A19A during late 1962. Florida State Road A19A formed for a loop of mainline US Route 19 following Florida State Road 693, Florida State Road 699 and the Pinellas Bayway.
The modern southbound span of Corey Causeway was completed by 1966. Corey Causeway and Florida State Road 693 can be seen as part of Florida State Road A19A on the 1972 United States Geological Survey Map of Tampa.
The modern northbound span of Corey Causeway was completed by 1975. Florida State Road A19A was dropped during the 1980s leaving only Florida State Road 693 as the only highway designated over Corey Causeway. Corey Causeway can be seen as part of Florida State Road 693 on the 1988 United States Geological Survey Map of St. Petersburg.
Part 2; a drive on Florida State Road 693 over Corey Causeway
Florida State Road 693 southbound in the city of St. Petersburg transitions from 66th Street onto Pasadena Avenue.
Florida State Road 693 southbound intersects Pinellas County Route 150 at Central Avenue.
Florida State Road 693 passes Park Circle and enters the city of South Pasadena.
Florida State Road 693 southbound follows Corey Causeway over Sailboat Key, Deadman Key and Boca Ciega Bay into the city of St. Pete Beach. Florida State Road 693 transitions onto 75th Avenue and terminates at Florida State Road 699.
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