The new Howard Frankland Bridge will open tomorrow. Here’s what you need to know

HOWARD FRANKLAND BRIGHT — Street cleaners kicked clouds of dust as street cleaners put the finishing touches on an expanded version of Tampa Bay’s crucial six-mile artery that is scheduled to be opened to drivers Tuesday morning on a new stretch at Howard FRANKLAND BRIGHT on Monday.

State Transportation spokesman Chris Carson said the exact time was not set at the bridge opening. Incoming storms could delay bridge openings after the afternoon, she said.

If the weather permits, crews will paint new stripes between the lanes of Interstate 275 on Monday, moving southbound traffic to the new bridge. Meanwhile, drivers heading north towards Tampa have yet to see the changes.

Greg Dees, a civil engineer at the Florida Department of Transportation, said the switch should be “pretty seamless and very safe” for drivers.

“The project has been under construction for many years, so they should get used to it,” he said.

The new bridge concludes five years of construction on the most expensive bridge project in Florida’s history. This bridge is the largest by the state’s surface area.

What should you expect if you’re heading to St. Petersburg?

Those heading south on Interstate 275 can expect to detour to board Howard Frankland’s new span, which carries primarily southbound traffic.

The orange barrel helps keep the driver in a new pass. Overhead light up signs also provide instructions.

Tomorrow, only four regular lanes will be open to the driver. Express Lane is scheduled to open next year.

What if I’m heading to Tampa?

What’s heading north on Interstate 275 will remain in its current northbound span.

This summer, the state transport department is planning to move northbound traffic, which currently carries southbound traffic, to the Middle Bridge Span.

The northbound span, built in the 1950s, is nearing the end of its expected lifespan and is scheduled to be demolished.

Don’t expect a dramatic explosion, Deese said. Starting this summer, the old bridges will be gradually disassembled, cut out and placed on barges. The concrete is then crushed and recycled for new projects, like the foundation of a parking lot.

What else is still underway besides the Bridge Project?

The state Department of Transport estimates that some of the new bridge’s features will not be open until next spring.

These include four Express lanes, two in each direction, and a 12-foot wide path for cyclists and pedestrians.

Among other features, the work continues on pedestrian surfaces, handrails, benches and lighting, Carson said.

Once the pass is complete, there will be four observation decks along the bridge. There, runners and cyclists can take a break and admire the sparkling expanse of Tampa Bay below.

State transport officials are still deciding which toll drivers will be charged after highway lanes are opened. Buses can also use these high-speed lanes to close inter-county riders faster.

If local governments choose to add mass transport, the bridge will have the capacity of future light rails. No plans have been put in place in Hillsboro or Pinellas County, and efforts to increase funding for mass transport have failed for years in front of ballot boxes or in court.

Is the new bridge really different?

State transport officials promoted the bridge’s safety features on Monday. The four extra lanes could evacuate more residents during the hurricane, Deese said. Emergency services can also merge into Express Lane to bypass traffic and reach crashes faster.

“It’s a huge deal for evacuation routes, for mobility in the area,” Deese says. “It’s an iconic bridge that really defines Tampa.”

After decades of watching Tampa Bay waters crash over the bridge during the storm, the new bridge is being built to be more resilient than the hurricanes. The designer took lessons from the Washout at Sanibel Causeway in southwestern Florida during Hurricane Ian, using heavy-duty rockfill instead of sand for the land approach when drivers reached the bridge.

Last year, spiked water ripped a mass of shoulders on a northbound bridge during Hurricane Helen.

Tampa Bay Historian Rodney Kite Powell said the opening of the new stretch is important for the region, but it is also impressive how similar it is to the older version that debuted in 1960.

“Sixty-five years later, we haven’t really changed much,” he said. He stood on a new bridge as part of a media event on Monday. “We’re still about cars. We’re going to add lanes, but then we’re going to add cars, which is interesting during that period.