The W. Howard Frankland Bridge is the central fixed-link bridge spanning Old Tampa Bay from St. Petersburg, Florida to Tampa, Florida. It is one of three bridges connecting Hillsborough County and Pinellas County; the others being Gandy Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway. The bridge carries Interstate 275 and is by far the most traveled of the bay's bridges.
Aerial view of the bridge in 2018
The original span looking west toward St. Petersburg
I-275 Northbound approaching Exit 39 with redesigned and updated sign after Howard Frankland Bridge section.
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and shallow estuary connected to the Gulf of Mexico on the west-central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, McKay Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay. The largest freshwater inflow into the bay is the Hillsborough River, which flows into Hillsborough Bay in downtown Tampa. Many other smaller rivers and streams also flow into Tampa Bay, resulting in a large watershed area.
Tampa's waterfront, 1890.
Port Tampa, c. 1900.
Facilities at Port Tampa Bay from Davis Islands, downtown Tampa at left
The Sunshine Skyway from its southern approach, St. Petersburg in the distance.
