New Howard Frankland Bridge is open
The brand new southbound span of the Howard Frankland Bridge is open, marking an enormous change for drivers on the crucial route connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg. FOX 13’s Regina Gonzalez reviews.
TAMPA, Fla. – After a number of years of building, the brand new span of the Howard Frankland Bridge formally opened to site visitors in time for the Tuesday morning commute.
Significance of the Howard Frankland Bridge
The backstory:
The bridge is a part of I-275, offering a crucial hyperlink for tons of of hundreds of drivers between Tampa and St. Petersburg.
The unique bridge opened in 1960, with a second span opening in 1990 to develop capability.
Pictured: Site visitors on the Howard Frankland Bridge on March 24, 2025, earlier than the brand new southbound span opened to site visitors.
In 2017, the Florida Division of Transportation (FDOT) introduced the $865 million challenge to switch the getting older authentic bridge with a brand new one. Building started in 2020.
What’s altering with the brand new bridge?
By the numbers:
The brand new bridge carries 4 lanes of southbound site visitors. It is going to additionally function 4 specific lanes – two in every route – which FDOT says will open subsequent 12 months.
“This is without doubt one of the busiest, if not the busiest, corridors in Tampa Bay. Roughly 200,000 individuals use this bridge on daily basis, which is greater than all the opposite Tampa Bay bridges mixed. That is the Courtney Campbell, the Gandy and the Skyway,” stated David Alfonso, a challenge supervisor with FDOT. “In early 2026, when absolutely operational – and that is when the specific lanes come on-line – it is going to enhance capability by 50%.”
A separate pathway for bicyclists and pedestrians can be below building.
Rendering of the Howard Frankland Bridge as soon as the challenge is accomplished in 2026. (Courtesy: Florida Division of Transportation.)
What’s subsequent:
Northbound site visitors will stay in the identical lanes till this summer time, in accordance with FDOT, at which level northbound site visitors will shift to the previous southbound span of the bridge.
FDOT says the present northbound bridge, which is nearing the tip of its pure lifespan, shall be demolished piece by piece, with the challenge anticipated to be accomplished in 2026.
The Supply: This story was written with data from the Florida Division of Transportation and former FOX 13 Information reviews.
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