With Tropical Storm Debby bouncing out there in the Gulf of Mexico, it is wreaking havoc in the Tampa/St. Petersburg area as far as high winds and flooding are concerned.
All from a tropical storm sitting out there in the Gulf of Mexico close to Florida. Remember Hurricane Elena over Labor Day weekend in 1985?
Now is a good time to let you know what criteria is used in deciding to close the Sunshine Skyway Bridge due to dangerous weather. On the main span of the Sunshine Skyway are wind speed detectors which send a wind speed report to the Florida Highway Patrol's Tampa Bay Regional Communications Center. It is the personnel in the communications center that make a recommendation to FHP troopers whether to close the Sunshine Skyway due to dangerous weather. Moreover, the FHP troopers out there patrolling the Sunshine Skyway also keep a close eye on weather conditions including how windy it is out there on the main span.
When wind speeds hover close to 40 mph (60 km/h) FHP troopers keep a close eye on conditions on the Sunshine Skyway, including activating the yellow flashing lights that warn motorists entering the bridge of high winds. Once the winds get sustained above 40 mph, FHP troopers will order the Sunshine Skyway closed.
Once the order to close the Sunshine Skyway is given, FHP troopers will direct motorists off of Interstate 275, southbound in St. Petersburg at Pinellas Point Drive South (Exit 16) and northbound in Palmetto/Ellenton at both US 41 (Exit 2) and on US 19 north at the last turn before toll at Exit 5 (that is the northbound entrance to Interstate 275 from US 19). Additionally, the closure order is passed on to the Florida DOT so that the electronic variable message signs found on Interstate 275 as well as Interstates 75 and 4 are updated with closure information advising motorists to seek alternative routes.
After all, closures of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge due to dangerous weather are not taken very lightly. If in the event the Florida Highway Patrol has to close the Sunshine Skyway due to dangerous weather, it is for one good reason: Your safety. After all, no one - including me - wants to be out there on the Sunshine Skyway's 191-foot high main span during dangerous weather.
Be safe out there!
All from a tropical storm sitting out there in the Gulf of Mexico close to Florida. Remember Hurricane Elena over Labor Day weekend in 1985?
Now is a good time to let you know what criteria is used in deciding to close the Sunshine Skyway Bridge due to dangerous weather. On the main span of the Sunshine Skyway are wind speed detectors which send a wind speed report to the Florida Highway Patrol's Tampa Bay Regional Communications Center. It is the personnel in the communications center that make a recommendation to FHP troopers whether to close the Sunshine Skyway due to dangerous weather. Moreover, the FHP troopers out there patrolling the Sunshine Skyway also keep a close eye on weather conditions including how windy it is out there on the main span.
When wind speeds hover close to 40 mph (60 km/h) FHP troopers keep a close eye on conditions on the Sunshine Skyway, including activating the yellow flashing lights that warn motorists entering the bridge of high winds. Once the winds get sustained above 40 mph, FHP troopers will order the Sunshine Skyway closed.
Once the order to close the Sunshine Skyway is given, FHP troopers will direct motorists off of Interstate 275, southbound in St. Petersburg at Pinellas Point Drive South (Exit 16) and northbound in Palmetto/Ellenton at both US 41 (Exit 2) and on US 19 north at the last turn before toll at Exit 5 (that is the northbound entrance to Interstate 275 from US 19). Additionally, the closure order is passed on to the Florida DOT so that the electronic variable message signs found on Interstate 275 as well as Interstates 75 and 4 are updated with closure information advising motorists to seek alternative routes.
After all, closures of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge due to dangerous weather are not taken very lightly. If in the event the Florida Highway Patrol has to close the Sunshine Skyway due to dangerous weather, it is for one good reason: Your safety. After all, no one - including me - wants to be out there on the Sunshine Skyway's 191-foot high main span during dangerous weather.
Be safe out there!
4 comments:
What is an alternate route from Manatee County to Pinellas when the Skyway is closed, such as now?
What is the best alternate route from Manatee County to Pinellas when the Skyway is closed, such as now?
To answer your questions on which is the best alternate route from Manatee County (Bradenton) to Pinellas County (St. Petersburg or Clearwater) when the Sunshine Skyway is closed, here is a recommended route:
In the going to Pinellas from Manatee direction: Follow Interstate 75 north to Tampa. Where you need to exit Interstate 75 towards Pinellas County depends on your destination.
St. Petersburg: West on Interstate 4 to Interstate 275 south. Proceed south on the Howard Frankland Bridge to St. Petersburg.
Or, you may head west on the Selmon Crosstown Expressway to Gandy Blvd. Proceed west on Gandy Blvd. across the Gandy Bridge to St. Petersburg. Remember, the Selmon Crosstown Expressway is a toll road and it utilizes all electronic tolling by SunPass or Toll-By-Plate.
Clearwater: West on Interstate 4 to Interstate 275 south. Proceed south to Exit 39, which is FL 60 to Tampa International Airport and Clearwater. Follow the signs for FL 60 west across the Courtney Campbell Causeway to Clearwater.
In the going to Manatee from Pinellas direction: Take northbound Interstate 275 to eastbound Interstate 4 which will run you into Interstate 75. Or, if you are coming from St. Petersburg take eastbound Gandy Blvd. across the Gandy Bridge, then east on the Selmon Crosstown Expressway to Interstate 75.
Follow Interstate 75 south to Manatee County. That's all there is to it!
Hopefully this should help.
So we have to drive an extra hour out of the way every time the bridge is closed? How do we find out when it reopens?
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