When Will the New Howard Frankland Bridge Span be Completed?

The Howard Frankland Bridge, the busiest of the three bridges connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg across Old Tampa Bay, is nearing a major transition. The northbound/eastbound side, which first opened in 1959, is approaching the end of its lifespan. Coupled with the rapid population growth in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, this has necessitated the construction…

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The Howard Frankland Bridge, the busiest of the three bridges connecting Tampa and St. Petersburg across Old Tampa Bay, is nearing a major transition. The northbound/eastbound side, which first opened in 1959, is approaching the end of its lifespan. Coupled with the rapid population growth in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, this has necessitated the construction of a new bridge.

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Construction of the new bridge began in spring 2020, and over the past four years, it has slowly taken shape alongside the southbound portion of the Howard Frankland. Initially, the new bridge was expected to open in late 2025, but the timeline has since moved up. It is now anticipated to open for traffic in spring 2025.

Major Milestone Achieved

This week, a significant milestone was completed, helping to keep the project on schedule. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced that construction workers placed the final “superstructure” beam on the new bridge. FDOT even shared a video of the beam being installed.

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Features of the New Howard Frankland Bridge

Once finished, the new I-275 bridge will feature eight lanes:

  • Four general-use lanes from Tampa to St. Petersburg.
  • Four express lanes — two from St. Pete to Tampa and two from Tampa to St. Pete.

Additionally, a separate pathway for pedestrians and bicyclists will be constructed alongside the new bridge, similar to part of the Courtney Campbell Causeway’s pedestrian walkway.

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Transition and Completion Status

The existing southbound/westbound (Tampa to St. Petersburg) bridge will be converted to the new northbound/eastbound I-275. Once traffic is fully transferred to the new bridge, the old northbound/eastbound bridge will be dismantled.

As of December 6, the project’s progress is as follows:

  • 209 of 226 deck sections are complete.
  • The bridge traffic rail/barrier wall is 60% complete.
  • The Pinellas side approach is approximately 90% complete.
  • The Hillsborough approach is approximately 50% complete.

For more information on the project, visit FDOT’s project page.

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(Image credit: FDOT)

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