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Photos: A new Howard Frankland is rising, with tolls, bike lanes and room for rail

Since it opened in 1960, the Howard Frankland Bridge has emerged as the region’s most frustrating chokepoint and essential connector. The bridge's expansion, which will become the new southbound bridge, is expected to help ease congestion with eight lanes — four general-use lanes, four tolled express lanes and a 12-foot-wide bike and pedestrian trail. Eventually, the existing southbound lanes will be flipped northbound, and the original bridge from 1959 will be dismantled, span by span, officials say.
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Published July 12, 2022
Work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, at right, on June 30.
Work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, at right, on June 30.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
Pilings rest at various depths as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
Pilings rest at various depths as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
Traffic streams over the existing Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay on Thursday, June 30, 2022, between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. FDOT is rebuilding the existing northbound bridge, which was originally constructed in 1959, and adding capacity to alleviate traffic congestion.
Traffic streams over the existing Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay on Thursday, June 30, 2022, between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. FDOT is rebuilding the existing northbound bridge, which was originally constructed in 1959, and adding capacity to alleviate traffic congestion.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
Work continues on Thursday, June 30, 2022, on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge, at left, over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.
Work continues on Thursday, June 30, 2022, on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge, at left, over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
Pile hands Pisente Ovidio, left, and Marino Sanchez build a pile-driving template as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
Pile hands Pisente Ovidio, left, and Marino Sanchez build a pile-driving template as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
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Pilings rest at various depths as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge, at left, over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
Pilings rest at various depths as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge, at left, over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
A barge transports welding gases between job sites as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
A barge transports welding gases between job sites as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
Traffic streams southbound over the existing Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay on Thursday, June 30, 2022, between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. FDOT is rebuilding the existing northbound bridge, far left, which was originally constructed in 1959, and adding capacity to alleviate traffic congestion with a new bridge, at right.
Traffic streams southbound over the existing Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay on Thursday, June 30, 2022, between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties. FDOT is rebuilding the existing northbound bridge, far left, which was originally constructed in 1959, and adding capacity to alleviate traffic congestion with a new bridge, at right.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
A worker is transported by skiff as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.
A worker is transported by skiff as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
Pilings rest at various depths as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.
Pilings rest at various depths as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties on Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
This gallery continues below...
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A target card, used by engineers to monitor the integrity of a piling, remains affixed on the existing northbound Howard Frankland Bridge bridge over Old Tampa Bay on Thursday, June 30, 2022. FDOT is rebuilding the existing northbound bridge, which was originally constructed in 1959, and adding capacity to alleviate traffic congestion.
A target card, used by engineers to monitor the integrity of a piling, remains affixed on the existing northbound Howard Frankland Bridge bridge over Old Tampa Bay on Thursday, June 30, 2022. FDOT is rebuilding the existing northbound bridge, which was originally constructed in 1959, and adding capacity to alleviate traffic congestion.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
A worker is delivered to a barge via skiff as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.
A worker is delivered to a barge via skiff as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
Work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge, at left, over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.
Work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge, at left, over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
Workers off-board from a skiff onto a barge as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.
Workers off-board from a skiff onto a barge as work continues on the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
Work continues on setting pilings for the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.
Work continues on setting pilings for the new southbound/westbound Howard Frankland Bridge over Old Tampa Bay between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, Thursday, June 30, 2022.  DOUGLAS R. CLIFFORD | Times 
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