St. Petersburg issues warning for those living near construction cranes

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (Oct. 8, 2024) — The City of St. Petersburg issued a public safety advisory for residents and businesses near several downtown construction sites with tower cranes, as Hurricane Milton approaches with projected wind gusts exceeding 100 mph.

The high winds pose a significant risk to these cranes, which could malfunction under such extreme conditions.

With Hurricane Milton rapidly intensifying and forecasted to make landfall directly over St. Petersburg, four specific construction sites have been identified as high-risk due to the height and vulnerability of the tower cranes in place:

• 400 Central Ave. (downtown)
• 275 1st Ave. S (downtown)
• 1000 1st Ave. N (downtown)
• 101 Main St. N (Carillon)

The city has been coordinating with the owners of the cranes. However, due to the specialized nature of crane operations, lowering or securing them takes weeks of planning and cannot be completed within the current storm timeframe.

Safety Recommendations:

• Residents and businesses near the affected construction sites are advised to relocate or shelter in place.
• Roadways, sidewalks, and parking zones near these sites will be restricted due to the potential safety hazard.
• For those sheltering in place, interior locations such as stairwells or areas near elevators are considered the safest spots within buildings.
• For more information on evacuation routes and shelters, visit disaster.pinellas.gov .

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