TAMPA BAY, Fla. — Construction on the new Howard Frankland Bridge is moving along.

What You Need To Know

  • The Florida Department of Transportation says drivers may be using the bridge in late 2024

  • When done, the new bridge will offer four new southbound lanes of I-275 into Pinellas, plus two new toll lanes in each direction to help with traffic

  • The current southbound bridge will be switched to northbound. The old northbound bridge will be demolished

  • A major storm could delay construction finishing in time

In fact, it appears to be ahead of schedule.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) now says drivers could be using the new bridge by late next year. Previous estimates had been for 2025.

“The contractor is moving really well,” said FDOT resident engineer Greg Deese.

However, total completion of the new bridge will likely continue after it opens going into 2025. That includes demolishing the old northbound bridge of I-275 into Tampa.

When done, the new bridge will offer four new southbound lanes of I-275 into Pinellas, plus two new toll lanes in each direction to help with traffic. The current southbound bridge will be switched to northbound.

The bridge will also include a multi-use path for pedestrians and is being “future proofed” for any future trains that may be built.

Drivers going over the current bridge are able to get a real-time glimpse of the new bridge’s progress.

“They’re seeing the most complex part of the construction. There’s a lot going on. You’ll see several cranes, upward of 25 cranes on site,” Deese said.

The $865 million bridge started road work in spring of 2020. Maintenance on the original northbound bridge is adding up as the bridge ages.

The bridge is being built one span at a time before the road deck is added. Deese says there’s 153 spans in total and most are nearly complete across the Bay, which is no easy feat over open water.

“The challenge comes in the logistics in building a bridge this big. If you put together all the beams, you’re talking almost 50 miles of beams they have to place,” Deese said.

Deese says weather cooperating is a big deal. Should there be a major storm this year or next, it could slow down estimates of a late-2024 ending. But they’re working through the good weather to get the new bridge done.   

“We’re hoping for good weather so that we can progress well,” Deese said.