City of St. Petersburg Celebrates Completion of 40th Avenue NE Bridge Project with Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

August 15, 2023 - The City of St. Petersburg will celebrate the grand reopening of the 40th Avenue NE Bridge with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 19 at 9 a.m. Media and Shore Acres residents are invited to attend.

Remarks will be given by:

• St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth T. Welch
• St. Petersburg City Council Member Ed Montanari (District 3)
• Shore Acres Civic Association Representative
• Upham Family Representative

The ceremony will take place on the west end of the bridge (40th Avenue NE, closest to 12th Street). Shore Acres residents and the media are invited to attend. Residential street parking will be limited, so attendees are encouraged to walk or bike to the bridge site.

The westbound lane of the bridge will be closed starting approximately 15 minutes prior to the event at 8:45 a.m. and will remain closed for up to an hour. During the event, the entire bridge will be closed for up to approximately 15 minutes. Detours will be in place.

 

ABOUT THE 40TH AVENUE BRIDGE

The 40th Avenue Bridge was replaced due to findings during routine maintenance in 2017 when corrosion of the reinforcing strands in the underside of the bridge center was discovered. The City of St. Petersburg made the determination to replace the bridge. The City worked with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) who also agreed to partially fund the construction of the bridge. Public engagement, design and permitting were initiated in 2018 and construction on the bridge began in early 2021 with contractor Orion Marine Group. The project cost about $15.4 million dollars.

In addition to providing approximately five feet more clearance than the original bridge, innovative construction methods, safety, accessibility, and aesthetics were also considered in the construction of the new bridge.

Innovative Construction Methods:
Due to its location in a highly corrosive marine environment, the bridge has been reinforced with Carbon or Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP or GFRP) in almost all of its structural elements, with the exception of the bridge sidewalks, median, and decorative railing which will use traditional carbon steel. Foundation piles use stainless steel reinforcing to further prevent corrosion. Both CFRP and GFRP are highly resistant to chloride ion and chemical corrosion and do not rust like carbon steel. Fiber-reinforced polymer reinforcement also has a tensile strength greater than steel while weighing one-quarter as much. The 40th Avenue Bridge is the first bridge project in which the City of St. Petersburg has utilized CFRP or GFRP.

Additionally, the new bridge utilizes innovative construction methods such as pre-stressed Florida Slab Beams (FSBs). FSBs are much thinner than traditional beams and allowed the City to maximize the vertical clearances for marine traffic. Further, FSBs can be constructed off-site to increase quality control and expedite the construction sequence.

Safety and accessibility improvements:

• Wider sidewalks
• Dedicated bicycle lanes
• Crash-tested bridge railings
• Reduced speed limits
• Improved visibility at adjacent driveways
• ADA-compliant grades
• Lengthening the bridge spans
• Streetlights

Aesthetic improvements:

• Lengthened bridge spans and increased vertical and horizontal clearance
• Open bridge railing to allow visibility from 40th Avenue NE
• Raised sidewalks to eliminate the need for additional sidewalk dividers
• Decorative bridge railing consistent with neighborhood preference
• Aesthetic lighting

More information about the bridge's history, the construction timeline, and more can be found at www.40thavenuebridge.com.