Howard Frankland Bridge Construction Video From Above: 2023 vs 2024

Every time you jump on the Howard Frankland, it's tough not to get distracted by all the work being done on the new bridge. Watch these videos below of the Howard Frankland Bridge construction from high above. The first is an update from last summer. Then watch and compare that with the newest video from the summer of 2024. The videos really show the dramatic progress they've made this past year.

The new Howard Frankland Bridge won't be done until the end of next year ("late 2025" is the official word from the Florida Department of Transportation). But we're getting there. It'll be 8 lanes wide. There are 4 general use lanes and four express lanes.

The biggest change from the old to the new Howard Frankland Bridge will be for those who want to get some exercise and a new view of Tampa Bay. There will also be a pathway for bicycles and pedestrians that's separated from the roadway. Right now, you can do that walk or ride on the Courtney Campbell, but pedestrians and bicycles are forbidden on the current Howard Frankland Bridge.

Once the new bridge is built and all traffic is moved into final alignment, the existing northbound/eastbound (St. Petersburg to Tampa) bridge you're driving on now will be removed.

According to FDOT, all of the pilings have been driven now. 99% of the bridge footings and 98% of the columns are done. 77% of the bridge superstructure beams are in place. These numbers are all as of June 2024. Take a look at these 2 Howard Frankland Bridge construction update videos. The first one is from last summer. The second is only about a month old.

Summer 2023:

Summer 2024:

Updated June 2024

As you drive over the Howard Frankland Bridge, you see progress, but it's still pretty tough to imagine what all of this work is going to look like upon completion. Work won't finish until late 2025 according to the Florida Department of Transportation. The cost is expected to be about $865 million. Not patient enough to wait until 2025 to see what this is all going to look like? Nor am I. Here's a sneak preview from artist renditions shared by the Florida Department of Transportation.

A new southbound/westbound (from Tampa to St. Pete) bridge is what you see currently being built north of the current southbound/westbound bridge. It'll have 8 lanes - 4 for general use and 4 express lanes. There's a bike and pedestrian path in the plan. The bridge we use now to go from Tampa to St. Pete will become the new northbound/eastbound part of 275 once the new bridge is ready. The bridge we use to go from St. Pete to Tampa will be taken down.

As of May 2024:
- 100% of pilings have been driven.
- 99% of bridge footings have been completed.
- 98% of bridge columns have been completed.
- 92% of bridge caps have been completed.
- 77% of the bridge superstructure beams have been placed.
- 71% of bridge decks placed.

Not only are they making major progress on the structure of the bridge. But they have also finally repaved the 2 right lanes by the Martin Luther King JR exit. I'd imagine that the nice weather and lack of rain has helped them get some of this progress completed.

Many complain that this won't help with our traffic flow, especially with the malfunction junction exit going into the Veteran's/Clearwater. Well, don't worry. The FDOT is on that too, as apart of the Westshore Interchange reconstruction project.