New NASA Causeway Named for Dr. Sally Ride

June 12, 2023 – As a legacy to the first American woman to fly in space and to commemorate the 40th Anniversary of the seventh space shuttle mission when Ride made history, NASA’s new causeway has been named the Dr. Sally Ride Memorial Bridge. The ribbon-cutting for the $126 million bridge was held on Friday, June 9 with dignitaries from FDOT, NASA, Space Florida and others in attendance.

In 1983, while preparing to launch aboard STS-7, Ride said, “It’s time that people realize that women in this country can do any job that they want to do.”

Sally Ride joined NASA in 1978 and helped develop the robotic arm that she operated during her flight. She went to space again in 1984, racking up a total of 343 hours in space before leaving the space agency to become a teacher at the University of California San Diego.

The new bridge is taller and wider than earlier causeways and because of these larger dimensions it will not have the need for a drawbridge, which will speed up traffic on the road and allow boats on the Indian River Lagoon to cruise unimpeded.