The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has reported progress on two major transportation initiatives in the Tampa Bay region, totaling more than $1.3 billion in investment. The projects are part of the state’s Moving Florida Forward program, launched in 2023 to accelerate roadway improvements.
The Howard Frankland Bridge replacement, valued at approximately $865 million, opened to traffic earlier this year. The bridge expands capacity by 50 percent, includes express lanes and a shared-use path, and was constructed to meet hurricane resilience standards. Demolition of the original 1960 span has begun. The project is scheduled for full completion by spring 2026.
In Pinellas County, FDOT has begun construction on a $354 million expansion of Interstate 275. The work will add express lanes in each direction from 38th Avenue North to Fourth Street North, with direct connections to the Howard Frankland Bridge. Officials expect the expansion to reduce travel delays by up to 85 percent and generate more than $1.4 billion in regional economic value.
The I-275 expansion is being delivered 15 years ahead of its initial schedule due to accelerated funding. Overall, Florida has committed $68 billion to transportation infrastructure statewide over the next five years.