Janelle Irwin Taylor
The Nathaniel J. Upham 40th Avenue Bridge located between 12th Street NE and 13th Way NE in St. Petersburg will close next month for construction.
It’s important to note that this is not the beginning of the planned construction of a new bridge but rather a repair of the existing.
The city is replacing sections of the center span of the bridge deck to widen the usable area of the existing bridge so travel lanes can be improved and a pedestrian crossing added.
The city found hidden structural issues with the 57-year-old bridge in 2017 and has since limited weight capacity on the bridge, changed the travel patterns on the bridge to utilize outside lanes and reduced the speed to maintain safety and keep the bridge open while plans to replace it were formed.
The bridge connects the mainland in St. Pete to Shore Acres and is a key crossing point for residents.
The construction cost is $468,000.
Construction will begin next month and will take about a month and a half, according to the city.
Boats going under the bridge will not be able to access the main channel during construction because of safety concerns. They can cross under the bridge next to the main channel.
Two cranes will be located on the bridge during construction.
Local access for residents will be available at all times to the east and west of the bridge.
Detours will be available to the north at 62nd Avenue NE or to the south at 22nd Avenue NE.
The city will stage variable messaging boards around the construction area beginning March 15 notifying travelers of exact construction dates and of detour routes.
The existing construction schedule is subject to change because of weather or other unforeseen circumstances.
The city is providing a full-time construction inspector to answer questions or address concerns. Bruce Senfors with the city’s Engineering Construction Division is available at 727-551-3144.
