The Florida Department of Transportation is seeking input for the art features that will be placed on the southbound/westbound span of the Howard Frankland Bridge.
The design-build project, already under way, runs the I-275 bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. It is going up north of the current span.
The agency is seeking community input on their favorite “sail” design, one that best represents the Tampa Bay area, said FDOT Spokeswoman Kris Carson. The sails will be placed at four scenic overlooks on the bridge. Voting runs through May 31 and includes two options: the “Marconi Sail” (pictured below) and the “Schooner Sail” (pictured above).
Votes are all online.
“As of right now, we have over 3,600 votes,” Carson said. “FDOT selected the sail themes to maintain aesthetic consistency with work done in the Westshore area along I-275.”
The new bridge will have eight lanes, including four for general use and four express lanes, two going from St. Petersburg to Tampa and two going from Tampa to St. Petersburg. It will also include a bicycle and pedestrian pathway separated from the road.
FDOT will convert the existing southbound/westbound bridge into a northbound/eastbound I-275 span from St. Petersburg to Tampa. The existing northbound bridge will be removed once the new bridge is completed, and traffic is moved to the new span.
