For the third time in its history, Tampa Bay’s six-mile lynchpin has earned a new span for drivers to pass.
This version of Howard Frankland Bridge is rugged against the storm, with a wide, high four-lane track, $865 million, and more expensive than its predecessor.
But today, as southbound traffic moves into a new span, much of the basics across the bay remains unchanged. Drivers can only access four southbound lanes. The other four lanes of the new span are expected to be two paid lanes in two directions, and they will not be open for another year.
Those driving north use the same bridge span that they always have until summer when traffic travels to the center.
![This graphic shows how the traffic pattern ultimately changes at the Howard Frankland Bridge. Tomorrow southward traffic will be directed towards a new span. However, northbound traffic does not travel to the central span until summer. Express Lane is scheduled to open next year.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 392"/%3E "This graphic shows how the traffic pattern ultimately changes at the Howard Frankland Bridge. Tomorrow southward traffic will be directed towards a new span. However, northbound traffic does not travel to the central span until summer. Express Lane is scheduled to open next year.")
And what’s missing from today’s new bridges is the improvements in crossbait transit. There is room for light rails, but there is no plan to implement it among local governments. Express lanes help buses bypass traffic, but not a year more.
So, does Interstate 275 remain in busy and chaos as travelers leave the bridge? Or will they notice the difference? Howard Frankland will open in the vehicle, so we will provide a live update. Stay at tampabay.com for updates.
6:30am: All lanes are open to local commuters
Just in time for morning work, all lanes in the new span at Howard Frankland Bridge appeared to be open to drivers by 6:30am Tuesday. Officials with the Florida Department of Transportation have opened a new bridge for drivers southbound one lane at a time, from Monday night until Tuesday morning.
Local traffic cameras showed the driver using all lanes on the new bridge. Stay tuned for more updates.
– Justin Griffin
5:30am: Tampa Bay’s first driver crosses a new span Tuesday morning
Workers with the Florida Department of Transport opened new lanes at Howard Frankland Bridge in time for early commuters on Tuesday morning despite the slightest possible rainfall of overnight Monday. Local traffic cameras showed a car moving south from Tampa towards St. Petersburg was on the new road.
The crew had planned to open the new bridge into one lane. As of 5:30am, the southbound driver was traveling in only one open lane. Stay tuned for more updates.
– Justin Griffin
![Traffic cameras show the first driver heading south to the new span at Howard Frankland Bridge on Tuesday, before 5:30am Tuesday.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 376"/%3E "Traffic cameras show the first driver heading south to the new span at Howard Frankland Bridge on Tuesday, before 5:30am Tuesday.")
5am: Reporter took his first drive Monday past a new span
Just a day ago, a new stretch at the southbound Howard Frankland Bridge was silent, ready to take on the thousands of drivers who would surpass it every day.
The concrete face was untouched, with no signs of tire marks or wear coming from commuters for decades. The ride was smooth and quiet on my tires when staff allowed news media members to drive before they were made public. Tampa Bay’s calm waters glitter below, peek at what the views will look like from the pedestrian and cycling lanes separated from traffic by barrier walls. The feature is scheduled to open next year.
![Aerial drone view southwest as you pass the hump from the new Howard Frankland Bridge (new lanes drawn on the right) towards Pinellas County. Reporters took their first drive along the new span on Monday.](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 620 435"/%3E "Aerial drone view southwest as you pass the hump from the new Howard Frankland Bridge (new lanes drawn on the right) towards Pinellas County. Reporters took their first drive along the new span on Monday.")
On Tuesday, when the weather permits, the tranquility ends as the bridge opens to four-lane traffic and begins its longevity as an important tether connecting the two halves of the Tampa Bay area. It is expected to last for a century.
– Emily L. Mahony
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