With all the traffic along the Howard Frankland Bridge, it’s easy to take in the sights. Mangroves, tranquil Tampa Bay waters, dolphins, and heavy construction machinery.
ICYMI: The Florida Department of Transportation is replacing the old bridge with a new one, and says construction is 90% complete. Let’s look at the numbers around the project, set to open next spring.
- The new bridge will have eight lanes: four for normal traffic, and four express lanes. A parallel bicycle/pedestrian pathway is also under construction.
- Work initially began in fall 2020, meaning we’re up to four years of construction.
- And it ain’t cheap. With a cost of at least $865 million, it’s FDOT’s most expensive bridge project ever.
- Officials hope it will better cut down traffic for the ~250,000 drivers who use the road to cross between Hillsborough and Pinellas county every single day. The bridge will be 168 ft wide — the widest in Florida.
- And shoutout to the 300+ workers finalizing the structure.
