Sunshine Skyway Bridge Open, Expected To Close Tuesday: Official

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — With Tropical Storm Elsa approaching Florida, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is currently open with wind advisories Tuesday afternoon.

The Florida Department of Transportation urges motorists to drive with caution in both directions over the bridge because of high winds, according to Florida 511, the FDOT’s app for real-time traffic and travel information.

When the west coast of Florida begins to feel more of the effects of the tropical storm, the bridge will likely close, Manatee County Public Safety Director Jacob Saur said during a news conference.

“As weather deteriorates this evening, you can expect the Skyway Bridge to close,” he said.

The four-lane cable-stayed concrete bridge, with northbound and southbound lanes, is part of Interstate 275 and U.S. Highway 19. It connects Pinellas and Manatee counties.

The bridge closes when maximum sustained winds are 40 mph or higher.

Stay tuned to Patch for updates on Tropical Storm Elsa. Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading from iTunes, or by visiting the Google Play store.

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