Motorists have a new option for traveling between St. Petersburg and Tampa as the Florida Department of Transportation opened the northbound I-275 express lanes and a pedestrian-bicycle trail on the Howard Frankland Bridge on May 27.
The newly opened express lanes, which run from 4th Street North in St. Petersburg to just north of the bridge in Tampa, are part of a $972.5 million replacement and improvement project that began in 2020. The lanes are located in the median of I-275, separated from general traffic by barrier walls and flexible delineator poles. Contractors expect to open southbound express lanes over the next several nights, weather permitting.
Currently, motorists can use these express lanes toll-free during a testing phase. Once testing concludes, tolls will be collected electronically at all hours via SunPass or compatible transponders; cash payments and TOLL-BY-PLATE will not be accepted.
Alongside the highway improvements, FDOT also opened a 12-foot-wide shared-use path for pedestrians and cyclists along the north side of the new bridge. This nearly seven-mile trail features four shaded overlooks with sail-inspired canopies for views of Tampa Bay. The path is accessible daily from sunrise to sunset with entry points at both ends: 4th Street North in St. Petersburg and Reo Street in Tampa.
FDOT is expanding access through additional construction projects including a new shared-use path along 4th Street North from Gandy Boulevard to I-275 in St. Pete. The agency said these upgrades aim to improve safety for non-motorized users while encouraging alternatives to driving, reducing congestion, and supporting more connected communities.
Construction across related projects is expected to finish by late 2026. Archer Western Construction leads work on this project alongside Traylor Bros., Inc., both operating under partnership agreements with FDOT’s oversight.
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