Traffic updates: Sunshine Skyway Bridge closed as Hurricane Helene brings strong wind
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Hurricane Helene 2024
Hurricane Helene is projected to bring heavy rain, strong winds and possible floods to Manatee County and Florida’s Big Bend region. Forecasts, as of September 25, project Helene will strike Florida Thursday evening, September 26, and head north through parts of Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina into Friday.
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UPDATE: Hurricane Helene has passed and Florida is assessing damage and beginning recovery efforts on Friday. See the latest traffic updates here.
The Sunshine Skyway bridge is closed due to high wind as Hurricane Helene impacts Manatee County and Southwest Florida.
At 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, Florida Highway Patrol said wind gusts had reached 60 miles per hour at the Skyway and closed the bridge to traffic.
“Motorists are requested to seek alternate routes,” the agency said in a news release.
Troopers also urged drivers not to drive through flooded areas and to stay off roads entirely if possible.
“If traveling, please travel cautiously, avoid any flooded roadways, increase following distance and slow down,” FHP said.
As of 3:40 p.m., troopers have also shut down the Howard Frankland Bridge connecting Hillsborough to Pinellas County. The Courtney Campbell Causeway connecting Tampa to Clearwater was shut down as of 5 p.m., and the Gandy Bridge connecting Tampa to St. Petersburg was closed as of 6:20 p.m.
Flooding has also been reported on roads around Bradenton and Anna Maria Island. Local law enforcement agencies are urging residents to stay home as the storm passes on Thursday.
Manatee County traffic lights down
“We have received reports of malfunctioning traffic lights,” Manatee County Government said in a social media post Thursday afternoon. “If you need to venture out, please treat these intersections as a four-way stop by yielding right-of-way and proceeding cautiously.”
Roads flood in Bradenton
Bradenton Police Department has reported flooding in the following areas Thursday:
As of 10:30 a.m.:
- Riverview Boulevard between 20th Street and 26th Street
- Riverside Drive East between Second Street and Sixth Street
- Riverside Drive East between Ninth Street East and 10th Street Court East
- Riverside Drive East between 18th Street and 21st Street
- Virginia Drive between Manatee Avenue and Ninth Avenue West
- First Avenue East and Fourth Street East
- 24th Street East and Vermont Avenue
- Braden Castle: Fun Ave and 28th Street East
- Braden Castle: Lazy Time and 28th Street East
As of 12:15 p.m.:
- Riverfront Boulevard under the First Street Bridge
As of 4 p.m.:
- First Avenue East and Fourth Street East
- 1500-2500 Riverside Drive
1700 27th Street East (power line in road)
Anna Maria Island: roads ‘impassable’; bridges closed
In a Thursday morning Facebook post, the Holmes Beach Police Department asked people to stay off the roads on Anna Maria Island.
“The roads are already under water and many cars will not make it through,” the agency said.
The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office shared similar images Thursday morning. In a social media post, the agency shared pictures that showed standing floodwater along South Drive and South Bay Boulevard, near the Anna Maria Island City Pier.
As of 7:30 p.m., the Anna Maria Bridge and the Cortez Bridge are closed.
“The roads on the island are impassable as the Gulf waters and storm surge have covered (them),“ Holmes Beach Police Department.
This story was originally published September 26, 2024 at 2:06 PM.
