Gandy Bridge reopens; other Tampa Bay bridges remain closed after Helene

The Gandy Bridge is reopening Friday morning after Hurricane Helene lashed the region.

The Howard Frankland Bridge and Courtney Campbell Causeway, as well as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, remain closed.

In photos provided by the Florida Highway Patrol, northbound lanes of the Howard Frankland were covered in debris early Friday morning. Lighting posts were toppled, and patches of the shoulder had eroded and broken off after contending with Tampa Bay’s high waters last night.

Video captured yesterday showed cars crossing northbound Howard Frankland slowly as waves from an undulating Tampa Bay crashed against the barrier wall and sprayed across lanes.

The bridge closed in the afternoon. Water continued to rush onto the roadway.

The highway patrol must assess the damage on each bridge before opening them back up to drivers. By 7 p.m. yesterday, all bridges across Tampa Bay had closed as the storm intensified.

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