​FDOT Seeks Public Input on Howard Frankland Bridge Sail Design

TAMPA BAY, FL — The Florida Department of Transportation is asking the community to participate in choosing a design for the Howard Frankland Bridge by casting their vote for their favorite "sail" design.

The Howard Frankland Bridge replacement project is currently under construction.

The sails will be located along the four scenic overlooks on the new bridge. Voting will begin Monday, May 17 and run through May 31. It will include two options: the "Marconi Sail" and the "Schooner Sail." Both designs are nautically inspired by the surrounding waters of Tampa Bay.

The community can cast their vote here.

The new design is intended to improve emergency response times, provide more efficient hurricane evacuation routes and improve operations of express bus service and provide future transit options such as light rail and autonomous vehicles.

The project includes replacing the existing northbound (1959) bridge. The new bridge will have four general-purpose lanes and two tolled express lanes in each direction. Additionally, a 12-foot shared use walking/bike path that will be separate from the roadway will connect to trails on either side of the bridge.

To accommodate transit in the future, a portion of the new bridge will be designed and constructed to carry heavier loads that will meet the weight requirements of a light rail transit system. Should light rail transit be approved, the existing southbound (1991) bridge would then be widened and travel lanes shifted to the widened bridge.

Construction of the Howard Frankland Bridge replacement project is expected to be completed in late 2025.

For more information on the project, click here.

See related story: Long-Discussed Reconstruction Of Howard Frankland Gets Underway