Following the turbulent passage of Hurricane Milton, the Bay Area is taking measured steps towards recovery, with the reopening of key bridges representing a significant milestone. The Howard Frankland, Gandy, and Sunshine Skyway bridges have been deemed safe for travel and reopened for traffic, as confirmed by the Florida Highway Patrol earlier today. In statements reported by FOX 13 News, bridge inspectors under the guidance of Governor Ron DeSantis are pressing on with efforts to clear, assess, and reinstate the remaining major bridges that link Tampa and St. Petersburg, while the Courtney Campbell Causeway continues to be impassable, witnessed by crews diligently clearing debris.
As per the guidance laid down by the FDOT, updated indications of bridge statuses are being communicated to drivers via message boards along Florida's thoroughfares. A clear advisory has been stated, "The public is NOT allowed to cross the bridges once they are closed and should NOT cross the bridges, even if there are no physical barriers or officers there," which was disseminated through WTSP. This comes on the heels of Governor DeSantis' announcement on Thursday morning, where two major bridges were confirmed to be operational following the hurricane's onslaught.
The severe weather preceding Hurricane Milton's landfall led to the preemptive closure of the Sunshine Skyway and Howard Frankland bridges on Wednesday, in a swift response aimed at safeguarding public safety. The closures, prompted by escalating wind speeds and tumultuous waves, were part of a broader strategy to mitigate the risks associated with the storm's predicted 125 miles per hour winds as indicated by Tampa Bay Times. Notably, the Howard Frankland bridge closure occurred earlier than the previous precedent set by Hurricane Helene, illustrating the increasing caution exercised by the Florida Highway Patrol in the face of such natural calamities.
Experts in the field of engineering, such as Jeff Brown and Dan Su from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, have weighed in on the resilience of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the potential vulnerabilities of Tampa Bay’s lower-lying bridges in the face of a hurricane's storm surge. Storms like Helene and Debby have historically caused damage to the infrastructure of bridges like the Howard Frankland, with erosion being a primary concern. "I think the same types of damage to those low-rise bridges would probably be my biggest concern," Brown told Tampa Bay Times. Meanwhile, Pinellas County officials have managed to restore access to the county, as well as to the barrier islands, following their complete closure today.
