Traffic updates: Skyway reopens. Other Manatee County bridges and roads closed

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is reopened Friday after Hurricane Helene brought strong wind and storm surge to Manatee County and Southwest Florida.

Several other major roads and bridges around Bradenton and Anna Maria Island have reopened, while others remain closed.

Here’s the latest.

Skyway and other Tampa Bay bridges reopen

The northbound lanes of the Sunshine Skyway reopened as of 11:45 a.m., and the the southbound lanes reopened as of 1:15 p.m., Florida Highway Patrol said in a news release.

Additionally, the Howard Frankland Bridge and the Gandy Bridge are open. As of 3:30 p.m., the Courtney Campbell Causeway remains closed.

Anna Maria Island bridges closed

Bridges to Manatee County’s barrier islands of Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key remain closed until further notice, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office.

Anna Maria Bridge (also known as the Manatee Avenue bridge) and the Cortez Bridge are closed. The Palma Sola Causeway has reopened to the foot of the Anna Maria Bridge.

Emergency teams are assessing damage on Anna Maria Island Friday, Manatee County Government said in a post on social media. The island is without power, water and sewer service. Residents will be allowed back onto the island with re-entry tags when it is safe to do, Manatee County said.

In Sarasota County, access to Longboat Key, St. Armands Circle and Lido Beach is closed, Sarasota County Government said.

Roads flooded and traffic lights down

State troopers urged drivers getting back on the roads Friday to use extreme caution.

“Do NOT drive through flooded roadways and treat it as a four-way stop if you encounter inoperative traffic signals,” the agency said.

MCAT buses not running Friday

Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) routes will not run on Friday, the county said in a social media post.

This story was originally published September 27, 2024 at 12:38 PM.