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Tampa Bay’s Hometown Morning Krewe

Tampa Bay’s Hometown Morning Krewe

Tampa Bay’s Hometown Morning Krewe

This May Be A Driving Violation In 2024

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Author Tampa Bay's Morning Krewe

There could be a new driving violation in 2024 as part of a bill recently filed in the Florida Senate. The bill, if passed, will penalize drivers who “continuously” travel in the left-hand lane without the intent to pass. The bill also states that vehicles would will bot be allowed to continuously travel “in the furthermost left-hand lane of certain roadways.” Those roadways are mostly roads, streets, and highways with two or more lanes and a posted speed limit of at least 65 mph.

“A driver may not continuously operate a motor vehicle in the furthermost left-hand lane, except when overtaking and passing another vehicle, when preparing to exit the road, street, or highway, or when otherwise directed by an official traffic control device,” the bill states. So, driving in the left lane continuously could become a driving violation in 2024.

If passed, the bill would take effect on Jan. 1, 2024. If the bill passes and you receive a ticket it will be punishable as a moving violation.

[SOURCE: WFLA]


What Will The Howard Frankland Bridge Look Like When It's Finished?

Here is the updated timeline for the new Howard Frankland Bridge.  Lots of people drive over the 275 bridge every day, in fact, 170,000 cars a day do.  The construction has been going on now for a few years, since 2017 and there is lots of progress.

There has been so much progress on the bridge in the last few months.  FDOT officials said by the end of 2025, the new bridge will be complete and we can start driving over it.

The new bridge will consist of eight lanes; four general-use lanes, (Tampa to St. Petersburg) and four Express lanes.
Two lanes from the St. Petersburg side toward Tampa, two lanes from the Tampa side toward St. Petersburg.  In addition, a bicycle/pedestrian pathway separated from the roadway will is also included.

Updated Timeline On New Howard Frankland Bridge

As of July 2024:

100% of pilings have been driven.

99% of bridge footings have been completed.

99% of bridge columns have been completed.

96% of bridge caps have been completed.

85% of the bridge superstructure beams have been placed.

74% of bridge decks placed.

(you can see more images of bridge components)

There are about 275 workers on the job which costs about $865.3 million.  Each bridge is said to have a service life of up to 80 years. The Howard Frankland Bridge was constructed in 1959, making it 64 years old.

How Many Lanes Will There Be

More information is coming out about the new bridges that are being built.  WFLA.com has great pictures of what each side will look like when it is finished.  The new bridge will have a total of eight lanes, four general-purpose lanes, and four tolled express lanes.  Two express lanes will travel from St. Petersburg to Tampa and the other two will run from the Tampa side toward St. Petersburg.  The new bridge design will also include a bicycle/pedestrian trail that will connect Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

Once the new bridge is built, southbound traffic will move to the new bridge and northbound traffic will move to the existing southbound lanes.  The original northbound bridge will then be removed.

  • Artist rendition of overlook

    How close will the new Howard Frankland Bridge come to looking like the artist rendition? Soon we will find out.

    Howard Frankland Bridge

    Photo by: Florida Department of Transportation

  • Artist rendition with traffic

    Can’t wait for it to look like this.

    Howard Frankland Bridge

    Photo by: Florida Department of Transportation

  • Bridge Construction in July 2024

    It’s looking good. Can’t wait for it to be done.

    Bridge Construction in July 2024

  • Bridge Construction in July 2024

    New lane configurations. We are getting closer.

    Bridge Construction in July 2024

  • Bridge Construction in July 2024

    I can’t wait to drive over this new bridge.

    Bridge Construction in July 2024

  • Artist rendition of overlook w ITS

    FDOT is also installing a multi-use path for bicyclists and pedestrians.

    Howard Frankland Bridge

    Photo by: Florida Department of Transportation

  • Bridge Construction in May 2024

    Look at how much wider the new Howard Frankland bridge is compared to the other two. When you drive over it you can see it is higher as well. Howard Frankland Bridge Replacement

  • Bridge Construction in May 2024

    Been in the works for so long. Now, we are getting close to driving over it. Bridge Construction in May 2024

  • Bridge Construction in May 2024

    Those cranes have been a fixture in Tampa Bay for years now. Soon, they will no longer be needed. Bridge Construction in May 2024


Kevin is a member of Tampa Bay‘s Hometown Morning Krewe on 995 QYK. He has been with the station for 25 years, is a Tampa native, and went to Jesuit High School and USF. Go Bulls!. He is passionate about all things Tampa Bay. Kevin writes articles on the ongoing road projects around the Tampa Bay area, awards that Tampa Bay cities and businesses have won and country music happenings around the Bay area. He is always doing many things with his wife and kids. He loves to read books and play video games in his spare time.

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