ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — The bridge that leads into St. Petersburg’s Shore Acres neighborhood is reopening Friday.

The construction project is ahead of schedule.

The bridge, which crosses Placido Bayou, carries more than 18,000 vehicles a day, according to officials.

The bridge closed for emergency repairs for a week in August 2017. In June 2020, construction work began to make the bridge higher and evacuation routes more accessible.

The bridge’s reopening will include a new traffic pattern which will be in place during the first phase of the bridge replacement.

Drivers are encouraged to use caution while traveling through this active construction zone.