Florida tourists interested in sightseeing are often on the lookout for highway markers identifying scenic roadways and other historical signage, such as those found along State Road (SR) A1A that follows the coastline from Key West at the southern tip of the state north to the panhandle. Known for its views of the Atlantic Ocean and tropical scenery, SR A1A has been designated both a Scenic and Historic Coastal Highway and a National Scenic Byway.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, “Florida’s Scenic Highway program was started in the mid-1990s through the State Department of Transportation to recognize roadways that show Florida’s history, culture and resources. Since then, 24 roadways have been designated as either scenic or heritage roadways.”

A1A Scenic & Historic Coastal Highway was designated a National Scenic Byway in 2002 by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Selection criteria were based on several intrinsic qualities including historic, cultural, natural, scenic, recreational and architectural. “The Scenic & Historic A1A Highway highlights the beauty, culture and value of Florida,” the National Scenic Byways Program (NSBP) observed. “Explore miles of beaches along the route. You can sift for shells, observe several different types of seafowl in their natural habitat, or experience the ocean firsthand through swimming or boating.”

Citing the A1A highway’s historical significance, the NSBP noted, “Live the past through historical activities in several locations along the route. Listen as the Castillo de San Marcos demonstrates how to fire an old Spanish cannon, or visit museums highlighting the many nationalities that have made Florida their home. St. Augustine, the oldest continually occupied European-style city in the U. S., houses over 2,500 designated historic sites, from the old Spanish Cathedral Basilica of St. Augustine to the Victorian-era Flagler Hotel.”

Preserving the aesthetics of the infrastructure along Florida’s scenic roadways can be challenging given the coastal environment, exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light and tropical storms that buffet Florida’s coastline. One example of the effect these conditions can have on structural steel is the fixed span bridge over the Boynton Inlet along SR A1A, which required maintenance during the most recent summer. “The bridge was in really bad shape,” Tnemec coating consultant Mike Kendig acknowledged. “They were having trouble with pitting and severe corrosion issues. The project was fairly extensive and required the bridge to be shrouded while all of the existing coatings were blasted off and during application of the new coating system.”

After the old coatings, mill scale, rust, oxides and corrosion from the surface of the bridge were removed, the steel was primed with Series 90-97 Tneme-Zinc, an advanced technology two-component, moisture-cured, zinc-rich polyurethane. Next, an intermediate coat of Series 135 Chembuild, a modified polyamidoamine epoxy, was applied, followed by 53 gallons of Series 1070 Fluoronar, a high-solids fluoropolymer coating that offers an ultra-durable finish. “They wanted good corrosion protection for the bridge members and good color and gloss retention,” Kendig explained. “This project was a test case for the Florida Department of Transportation to see how this system will perform in the tough coastal environment right on the Atlantic Ocean.”

Similar coating systems have been used in Florida to protect other infrastructure projects, including light poles, metal roofs, water tanks and handrails, as well as several Western Beltway SunPass gantries from abrasion, ultraviolet (UV) light and exterior weathering. The elevated gantries are equipped with lights, cameras and electronic toll collection (ETC) technology for monitoring traffic.

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