Starting March 30, 2026, drivers who rely on San Martin Boulevard to cross Riviera Bay are in for a long slow roll. The bridge will be squeezed down to a single lane through October 2026 while crews shift key water and sewer pipelines under the bay, so expect delays and plenty of brake lights.
The one lane setup will use alternating one way traffic between Weedon Drive NE and Tallahassee Drive NE, with temporary signals telling each direction when it is their turn to move. Bicyclists will be asked to share the narrowed roadway. All of this utility work is the warmup act for a full bridge replacement project, with construction expected to kick off in late 2027.
According to the City of St. Petersburg, crews will begin mobilizing in mid March, then shift to the one lane configuration on Monday along the stretch between Weedon Drive NE and Tallahassee Drive NE. The city plans to relocate a 24 inch wastewater force main and a 12 inch drinking water main using horizontal directional drilling, and the project page lists October 2026 as the target completion date. Residents can sign up there for construction updates or reach the project team at [email protected] or 813-486-0361.
What drivers will face
Traffic on the bridge will be funneled into a single lane, with temporary signals flipping the right of way back and forth between directions, and southbound and then northbound lanes will close in separate phases, the report states. Contractors will stage equipment near the bridge, and message boards will go up on 83rd Avenue at 4th Street North and Gandy Boulevard to discourage neighborhood cut throughs. Most of the heavy lifting is scheduled for daytime hours.
Drivers and cyclists should brace for slower speeds, occasional sidewalk closures near staging areas, and the usual soundtrack of construction noise, St. Pete Catalyst reported.
Why the work is happening
The bridge overhaul has been in the works for a while. Pinellas County lists design work running through spring 2027, with construction anticipated to start in late 2027, so the city needs these underground lines moved first.
A public notice from the Coast Guard describes a new fixed bridge that would shift slightly east and provide higher vertical and wider horizontal clearances, improving navigation while going through environmental and navigational reviews.
Local TV coverage says the city moved the schedule up after a winter break incident that sent about 10,000 gallons of wastewater into Riviera Bay, accelerating plans for the pipeline upgrades, ABC Action News reported.
Plan ahead
The city’s Facebook alert urged drivers who typically cut through the neighborhood between Gandy Boulevard and 4th Street North to budget extra time or use a detour, City of St. Petersburg says. For regular project updates and construction alerts, residents can sign up on the city’s project page or email the project team at [email protected], and the project page also lists a phone number for immediate questions.
In the coming days, watch for new signage, message boards, and lane controls to pop up around the bridge. Give yourself a little extra time on commutes, follow posted detours, and keep an eye out for changing traffic patterns. We will continue tracking updates from the city and county as the relocation moves forward and will report any major shifts to the schedule or traffic plan.
