Sunshine Skyway Bridge

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Bridges completed in 1954Bridges completed in 1971Bridges completed in 1987Bridges in Pinellas County, FloridaBridges of the United States Numbered Highway SystemBridges on the Interstate Highway SystemBridges over Tampa BayBuilding and structure collapses in 1980Buildings and structures in St. Petersburg, FloridaCable-stayed bridges in the United StatesInterstate 75Landmarks in FloridaRoad bridges in FloridaSteel bridges in the United StatesToll bridges in FloridaTolled sections of Interstate HighwaysTransportation buildings and structures in Hillsborough County, FloridaTransportation buildings and structures in Manatee County, FloridaTransportation disasters in FloridaU.S. Route 19Use mdy dates from May 2016

The Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge, often referred to as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge or the Sunshine Skyway, consists of a pair of long beam bridges with a central cable-stayed bridge that spans Lower Tampa Bay to connect St. Petersburg, Florida, to Terra Ceia. The current Sunshine Skyway opened in 1987 and is the second bridge of that name on the site. It was designed by the Figg & Muller Engineering Group and built by the American Bridge Company. The bridge is considered the flagship bridge of Florida and serves as a gateway to Tampa Bay. The four-lane bridge carries Interstate 275 and U.S. Route 19, passing through Pinellas County, Hillsborough County and Manatee County. It is a toll road, with a $1.75 toll assessed on two-axle vehicles traveling in either direction and collected via cash or the state's SunPass system as a reduced toll of $1.16.The original Sunshine Skyway was a two-lane beam bridge with a central truss bridge built directly to the west of the current structure. It was completed in 1954, and a second span was added in 1971.The original Skyway was the site of two major maritime disasters over a four-month period, the second of which resulted in the bridge's partial destruction and eventual replacement. On the night of January 28, 1980, the United States Coast Guard cutter Blackthorn collided with the tanker Capricorn just west of the bridge, resulting in the sinking of the cutter with the loss of 23 crew members in the worst peacetime disaster in the history of the US Coast Guard. On the morning of May 9, 1980, the freighter MV Summit Venture collided with a support pier near the center of the bridge during a sudden squall, resulting in the catastrophic failure of the southbound roadway and the deaths of 35 people when several vehicles (including a Greyhound Bus) plunged into Tampa Bay. Within a few years, the damaged span was partially demolished, the surviving span was partially demolished and converted into a long fishing pier, and the modern Sunshine Skyway was built. The current bridge incorporates numerous safety features designed to protect the structure from ship collisions, as it spans one of the busiest shipping lanes in the United States.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Sunshine Skyway Bridge (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Sunshine Skyway Bridge
Sunshine Skyway Bridge,

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Latitude	Longitude
N 27.625 °	E -82.658611111111 °

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Sunshine Skyway Bridge

Florida, United States
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Nearby Places

Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge

The Pinellas National Wildlife Refuge is part of the United States National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) System, located offshore from mainland St. Petersburg, Florida, and only accessible by boat. The 394-acre (1.59 km2) refuge was established in 1951, to act as a breeding ground for colonial bird species. Islands within the refuge include Indian, Tarpon, Mule, and Jackass Keys, and all are within the St. Petersburg city limits.

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park

Skyway Fishing Pier State Park is a Florida State Park located on the north and south sides of the mouth of Tampa Bay. When the original cantilevered Sunshine Skyway Bridge, carrying I-275 (US 19), partially collapsed in 1980, due to the collision of a freighter on one of its pilings, it was replaced by the current bridges. The approaches to the old bridge, however, were left in place and converted into the longest fishing pier in the world.The most common activity on the pier is fishing. Common catches include snook, tarpon, grouper, black sea bass, Spanish mackerel, king mackerel, cobia, sheepshead, Mangrove Snapper, grunts, sharks, Goliath Grouper, Lane Snapper, flounder, and many more. Other pier activities include site seeing and photography. Before the bridge are good flats to fish at, kite board, kayak, and wind surf. Snacks, drinks, bait, and fishing supplies can be purchased on the pier, which has a fee for admission. The park is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Fort De Soto Park

South-southwest of St. Petersburg, Florida, Fort De Soto Park is a park operated by Pinellas County on five offshore keys, or islands: Madelaine Key, St. Jean Key, St. Christopher Key, Bonne Fortune Key and the main island, Mullet Key. The keys are connected by either bridge or causeway. The island group is accessible by toll road from the mainland. Historically, the islands were used for military fortifications; remnants and a museum exhibit this history. Two piers, beaches, picnic area, hiking trails, bicycling trails, kayak trail, and a ferry to Egmont Key State Park are available. The park is a gateway site for the Great Florida Birding Trail.

Rattlesnake Key (Tampa Bay)

Rattlesnake Key is a key (island) in a part of Tampa Bay in Manatee County, Florida.

Tierra Verde, Florida

Tierra Verde is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. The population was 3,721 at the 2010 census. The community is located on an island near the entrance of Tampa Bay, and is connected by the bridges of the Pinellas Bayway to both St. Petersburg and St. Pete Beach. At the southern end of Tierra Verde is Fort De Soto, a county park.

Shell Key Preserve

Shell Key Preserve is an 1,800-acre preserve located on Shell Key in Tierra Verde, Pinellas County in the U.S. state of Florida. The preserve protects sensitive marine habitats and includes one of the county's largest undeveloped barrier islands as well as numerous mangrove islands and expansive sea grass beds. Shell Key emerged as a barrier island in the early 1960s from a submerged shoal on the north side of Bunces Pass (the island was originally named North Bunces Key). The island extends up to the Pass-a-Grille inlet. The island has grown as swash bars develop off-shore and migrate onto the beach. The island has been breached by storms, but the breaches have closed. The island remains vulnerable to being overwashed by storm surges.Shell Key has been designated as one of the state's most important areas for shorebird nesting and wintering and it serves as an important study area for these species. It also is an important area for recreation. A balance for both uses was established by restricting public use to the northern and southern ends of the island. A central core area for conservation is closed to the public. Boating, camping, and beach-going activities are permitted in public use areas of the preserve. Visitors can access Shell Key only via a water vessel and no restroom facilities are provided. The closest boat ramps, trailer parking, and restroom facilities are located at nearby at Fort De Soto Park.

Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site

The Madira Bickel Mound State Archaeological Site is an archaeological site on Terra Ceia Island in northwestern Palmetto, Florida, United States. It is located on Bayshore Drive, west of U.S. 19, a mile south of I-275. On August 12, 1970, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. It is also a Florida State Park. The 10-acre (0.040 km2) site was the first Native American location in Florida to be designated as a State Archaeological Site.

Terra Ceia, Florida

Terra Ceia is an unincorporated community in Manatee County, Florida, United States that includes the 1,932 acres (7.82 km2) Terra Ceia Preserve. It is located on Terra Ceia Island on the Southern shore of Tampa Bay near the intersection of US 19 and I-275, at the southern end of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Terra Ceia Village Improvement Association Hall

The Terra Ceia Village Improvement Association Hall built in 1906 is an historic building located at 1505 Center Road in Terra Ceia, Florida. Also known as the Terra Ceia Woman's Club, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 16, 2003, as part of the Clubhouses of Florida's Woman's Clubs Multiple Property Submission (MPS).

Emerson Point Preserve

Emerson Point Preserve is a 365-acre (1.48 km2) preserve in Manatee County, Florida, located west of Palmetto and at the western end of Snead Island.

Manatee River

The Manatee River is a 36-mile-long (58 km) river in Manatee County, Florida. The river forms in the northeastern corner of Manatee County and flows into the Gulf of Mexico at the southern edge of Tampa Bay. Wildlife in and around the river includes alligators, herons, manatees, dolphins, and fish such as bass, bluegill, catfish, and gar. Bull sharks are occasionally found in the brackish water near its low-lying outlet. The river includes the Upper Manatee River Canoe Trail for paddlers.

Center for Advanced Technologies

The Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT) is a public magnet program in St. Petersburg, Florida, attached to Lakewood High School and part of the Pinellas County Schools district. Its primary focus is mathematics, science, and technology. It is a member of the National Consortium for Specialized Secondary Schools of Mathematics, Science and Technology (NCSSSMST) and is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. In its May 28 issue, Newsweek magazine ranked CAT at 24 in its 2007 list of the top 100 high schools in the nation. In 2010, CAT moved up to #15 in Newsweek magazine's list of top 100 high schools. CAT is currently among the global community of Microsoft Showcase Schools.Every year, students must apply to enter the CAT program. Approximately 150 students enter into the program each year. The focus of the CAT program is science and technology and thus all math and science classes are taught by CAT faculty. The rest of the students honors curriculum is provided by the traditional high school. This results in integration with traditional honors students. However, there are separate valedictorians and salutatorians.