Skip to main content

Florida replacing Howard Frankland Bridge

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is working on plans to replace the Howard Franklin Bridge. The project is now expected to cost US$814 million, an increase from the $750 million originally envisaged. The contract is expected to be awarded in 2019, with construction commencing in 2020. The first stage of the project should be ready for use in 2024, providing a significant increase in daily capacity and boosting the emergency evacuation capacity also. The new bridge will carry four lanes of traffi
August 22, 2018 Read time: 2 mins

2697 Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is working on plans to replace the Howard Franklin Bridge. The project is now expected to cost US$814 million, an increase from the $750 million originally envisaged. The contract is expected to be awarded in 2019, with construction commencing in 2020. The first stage of the project should be ready for use in 2024, providing a significant increase in daily capacity and boosting the emergency evacuation capacity also.

The new bridge will carry four lanes of traffic in either direction, replacing the existing structure which was built in the 1960s and is now reaching the end of its working life.

The structure will feature four southbound lanes for traffic in the direction of St Petersburg. The design includes four express toll lanes, with two lanes in either direction. Only drivers paying tolls will be allowed to use the express lanes, with the charges varying depending on demand.

The plans call for the existing southbound bridge, which was built in 1990, to be switched to carry northbound traffic. Further in the future, the new bridge will carry light rail (on lanes that will initially be used for northbound traffic) and an additional structure will be constructed to carry extra northbound traffic lanes. The new design also includes facilities for cyclists and pedestrians.

Once the new bridge is in use, the old structure will be demolished. However FDOT will also take care over the demolition work, which will be carried out in accordance with the strict environmental restrictions in the state and will ensure no contaminants affect the water resources.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Lane Construction to carry out Florida highway deal
    November 24, 2017
    Lane Construction Corporation will carry out construction work worth US$134.6 million on a stretch of highway in Florida. This 21km section of the new Suncoast Parkway 2 will run to the north of Tampa, along Florida’s western coast. The route is intended to be a major transport corridor for the state and will feature four lanes. Called SR 589, the tolled route will run from South of SR 700 (US 98) to SR 44 in Hernando and Citrus Counties. Lane Construction is building the second of two sections of the Sunco
  • PPRS Nice 2018: maintenance moves mountains
    June 22, 2018
    Strategic maintenance was a major theme at the second Pavement Preservation and Recycling Summit in Nice, France. The world is changing, mobility is changing and so roads must change and adapt for the future.” With this brief statement, Jacques Tavernier opened the second PPRS Summit. “At the same time there is a growing awareness of poor or non-existent maintenance for highways. The question for this conference is how to adapt road maintenance in the face of this challenge,” said Tavernier, in his role as
  • US$1.5 billion bridge grant: Oregon-Washington link
    July 17, 2024
    A US$1.5 billion bridge grant is being provided for the new Oregon-Washington link.
  • Athabasca’s Hwy 813 bridge to be replaced
    May 16, 2022
    The new bridge over the Athabasca River in the Canadian province of Alberta will include two 3.7m-wide lanes with 1.8m-wide shoulders on either side as well as a pedestrian sidewalk.