Roadwork On Howard Frankland Bridge Could Slow Down Drivers Headed To Airport

PINELLAS COUNTY, FL — The Florida Department of Transportation is planning an overnight road closure across the Howard Frankland Bridge this week that may affect travelers heading to Tampa International Airport from southern Pinellas County.

FDOT is closing the northbound lanes overnight from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. on Tuesday, March 7 to erect overhead signs along northbound Interstate 275.

Northbound on-ramps from Pinellas County will be closed from Gandy Boulevard to West Kennedy Boulevard during the work.

Work is scheduled to be completed by 5 a.m. on Wednesday, March 8.

People driving from Pinellas County may take either the Courtney Campbell Causeway from Clearwater or the Gandy Bridge from St. Petersburg.

Drivers using the Gandy Bridge will be detoured to continue along U.S. 92/Gandy Boulevard, then turn north onto Dale Mabry Highway before heading west on Kennedy Boulevard. From Kennedy Boulevard, follow signs for State Road 60 to Memorial Highway until the exit for the George J. Bean Parkway to the airport.

Drivers should allow extra time to navigate this detour if they are traveling to the airport for a late evening arrival or early morning departure on these dates. Southbound I-275 lanes will not be affected by this construction.

The construction dates are dependent on weather conditions; the backup date is March 8.

The FDOT is building a new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay from 4th Street in Pinellas County to State Road 60 in Hillsborough County.

The new 5.8-mile bridge will consist of eight lanes — four general-use lanes between Tampa and St. Petersburg and four express lanes: two lanes from the St. Petersburg side toward Tampa, two lanes from the Tampa side toward St. Petersburg. A bicycle/pedestrian pathway separated from the roadway is also included.

Once the new bridge is built and all traffic is moved to the final alignment, the existing northbound/eastbound bridge will be removed.

Construction of the $865.3 million will be completed in late 2025.