Gateway Expressway Explained

State:FL
Gateway Expressway
Alternate Name:State Road 686A, State Road 690
Map:Gateway Express Map.jpg
Map Notes:Aerial map of Gateway Expressway
Maint:Florida's Turnpike Enterprise
Status:Open
Established:2024
History:
  • Approved February 2014
  • Construction started August 21, 2017
  • Opened April 26, 2024
Direction A:East
Terminus A: in St. Petersburg
Direction B:West
Terminus B: in Pinellas Park
at Bayside Bridge
Previous Type:SR
Previous Route:688
Browse Route:SR 690
Next Type:SR
Next Route:692
Counties:Pinellas

The Gateway Expressway is a controlled-access toll road in Pinellas County, Florida completed in April 2024 at a cost of $598 million. The project consists of two branches: an elevated highway to be designated State Road 690 (SR 690) above 118th Avenue North between Interstate 275 (I-275) and U.S. Highway 19 (US 19) and a raised highway in the median of SR 686 from 118th Avenue North to the Bayside Bridge. Construction was approved in February 2014, began in November 2017, and completed on April 26, 2024.

Route description

The Gateway Expressway consists of two connected segments:

Both segments are tolled using electronic toll gantries for SunPass transponders or pay-by-plate billing.[2]

The project includes express lanes on I-275 from south of Gandy Boulevard to 4th Street North, where they will meet express lanes under construction as part of the new Howard Frankland bridge project.[1] [3]

History

The intention of the Gateway Expressway project is to mitigate transportation problems in Pinellas County, where several expressway projects were cancelled in the 1970s and 1980s, leaving the county without any major limited-access thoroughfares except for I-275. Significant upgrades to US 19 in the 2000s improved traffic flow north–south in the county. However, only local roads travel east–west. The Gateway Expressway project had been identified for a long time as a priority project to improve traffic flow in Pinellas County.

The project was announced by Governor Rick Scott in a press conference with local officials on February 17, 2014. It had been in the works for 15 years. Construction began in November 2017 at a cost of $598 million.[4] The project was not expected to be funded for another 15–20 years.[5] Funding will be provided by the Federal Highway Administration ($153 million), Penny for Pinellas funds ($53 million), and the State of Florida (remainder of project costs).[6] The project was officially completed on April 26, 2024, and was open free of charge for 7 days.[7]

Major intersections

State Road 686A express lanes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Gateway Expressway . Florida Department of Transportation . FDOT Current Projects . June 2019 . June 14, 2019.
  2. Web site: Schorsch . Peter . Game-Changer: FDOT Plans Elevated Toll Road to Connect I-275 and US 19 . Saint Peters Blog . May 3, 2014. February 17, 2014.
  3. Web site: I-275 (Howard Frankland Bridge) New southbound bridge between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties . Florida Department of Transportation . 15 August 2020.
  4. News: Varn . Kathryn . Gateway Expressway to connect Tampa Bay roads by early 2024 . January 29, 2024 . Axios Tampa Bay . June 13, 2023.
  5. Staff . Governor Scott Announces Advancement of Gateway Express Project in Pinellas County . Office of the Governor of Florida . May 3, 2014 . February 17, 2014 . January 10, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150110062844/http://www.flgov.com/2014/02/17/governor-scott-announces-advancement-of-gateway-express-project-in-pinellas-county/ . dead .
  6. News: O’Donnell . Christopher . Accelerated Plan will link I-275, US 19 in Pinellas . May 3, 2014 . Tampa Tribune . February 17, 2014.
  7. Web site: April 30, 2024 . MAP: Where to enter and exit the new Gateway Expressway . April 26, 2024 . WFLA-TV.