Bridge Monday; Antelope Island Causeway (former Utah State Route 127)

Back in 2015 I was ending a long road trip in the Northwest Region on of the Continental United States and had an extra day to kill in the Salt Lake City area. That being the case I decided to head out to Antelope Island in the middle of Great Salt Lake on the Antelope Island Causeway.

Antelope Island is the largest within Great Salt Lake at 42 square miles and is entirely located within Davis County. Antelope Island is home to Antelope Island State Park which was created in 1969. The creation of Antelope Island State Park led to the development of the first Antelope Island Causeway which was located over Farmington Bay just as the current structure. The first Antelope Island Causeway was part of third Utah State Route 127 which was created in 1965 and still exists between UT 110 and UT 108.

The waters of Great Salt Lake fluctuates wildly depending on winter rainfall. Great Salt Lake has been known to shrink to only 950 Square Miles in dry years and as high as 3,300 Square Miles during the wettest years. In 1983 the first Antelope Island Causeway closed due to flooding and needed to be replaced. The Utah State Legislature approved funding to build the current Antelope Island Causeway in 1991 and the structure was opened in 1993. The current Antelope Island Causeway is seven miles in length and is maintained by the Utah Division of Parks and Recreation.

From the western end of the Antelope Island Causeway much of Great Salt Lake can be seen. 2015 was a relatively wet year which is reflected in the depth of the waters around Antelope Island.

Antelope Island State Park is mostly known once privately held buffalo herd and the name antelopes. The ruins of the buffalo ranch on Antelope Island date back to the 1890s and were the result of failed homesteading.

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