The Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay Florida

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay Florida

February 20, 2010 by Kevin Dayhoff

Click here for a larger image of the top photo (b): http://twitpic.com/14m8i3 or here: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/403853631/sunshine-skyway-bridge-in-tampa-bay-fla-b1of2top

Click here for a larger image of the bottom photo (d): http://twitpic.com/14n8uw or here: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/404044333/sunshine-skyway-bridge-tampa-bay-fla-d2of2bottom

Two photos of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay Florida, as viewed from the Manatee County shore rest area. Photographed February 20, 2010 by Kevin Dayhoff

The five-and-a-half mile, $244 million structure which spans from Terra Ceia - Bradenton in Manatee County to St. Petersburg, Florida is the world's longest cable-stayed concrete bridge. The roadway is built to provide clearance of 190 feet above the water where the bridge spans the shipping channel.

It was opened to traffic on April 20, 1987 and is a part of the I-275 - US 19 road network.

A previous bridge, which stood in approximately the same position in the bay, was built in 1954, was partially destroyed in the morning of May 9, 1980, when a freighter, the “Summit Venture,” collided with the bridge resulting in 35 people losing their lives.

Unfortunately, the magnificent structure has also attracted personal tragedies. As many as 127 persons have jumped to their death from the bridge according to a St. Petersburg Times newspaper article by Jamie Jones, published October 6, 2003: “Skyway safeguards don't deter jumpers - At least 10 people have jumped already this year, despite crisis phones and 24-hour patrols.” What a paradox that such a beautiful structure would be used for something so unpleasant.

According to a report by Jose Garcia, "The Skyway Bridge - Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow,” for the Florida Department of Transportation, the bridge rates Travel Channel’s No. 3 of “Top 10 Bridges.”

It is not to be missed…

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[20100220 sdosmked Sunshine Skyway] 20100220 SunshineSkywayBridge (2)b - http://twitpic.com/14m8i3 or here: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/403853631/sunshine-skyway-bridge-in-tampa-bay-fla-b1of2top; 20100220 SunshineSkywayBridge (2)d - http://twitpic.com/14n8uw ore here: http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/404044333/sunshine-skyway-bridge-tampa-bay-fla-d2of2bottom

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2010/02/sunshine-skyway-bridge-in-tampa-bay.html

Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa Bay Fla b1of2top Feb 20, 2010 - Kevin Dayhoff http://tinyurl.com/ybmf7sy http://twitpic.com/14m8i3 http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/403853631/sunshine-skyway-bridge-in-tampa-bay-fla-b1of2top

Sunshine Skyway Bridge Tampa Bay Fla d2of2bottom Feb 20, 2010 - Kevin Dayhoff http://tinyurl.com/ybmf7sy http://twitpic.com/14n8uw http://kevindayhoff.tumblr.com/post/404044333/sunshine-skyway-bridge-tampa-bay-fla-d2of2bottom

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