After years of planning and construction, the new Howard Frankland Bridge span is now open. The $865 million project, first announced in 2017, aims to ease congestion and improve traffic flow on I‑275 between Tampa and St. Petersburg.
Currently, the new bridge features four lanes of southbound traffic. By 2026, it will include four express lanes—two for northbound traffic from St. Pete to Tampa and two for southbound commuters traveling into St. Petersburg. A dedicated bicycle and pedestrian trail is also set to open in 2026, providing a vital new connection between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
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A big ribbon‑cutting ceremony is set for Monday
FDOT hosted a ribbon‑cutting ceremony on Monday, March 24, ahead of an overnight traffic shift onto the new bridge. The existing southbound span will then be converted to handle northbound traffic, while the current northbound bridge—built in the 1990s—will be demolished once all lanes are realigned.
Standing about 10 feet higher than its predecessor, the new Howard Frankland Bridge is now the largest bridge in Florida by square footage. With an estimated 250,000 vehicles crossing daily, this critical thoroughfare is expected to reduce travel times and create a smoother, more efficient commute between Tampa and St. Petersburg.
