Howard Frankland Bridge reopens, Sunshine Skyway closed due to Hurricane Idalia

Rough weather and flooding from Hurricane Idalia prompted the closure of some Tampa Bay bridges early Wednesday.

Both directions of the Howard Frankland Bridge reopened Wednesday afternoon after it was closed earlier that morning due to storm surge flooding.

The Sunshine Skyway was closed to all traffic in both directions, and the eastbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway were closed, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers closed the Skyway shortly after 3 a.m. because of high winds from Hurricane Idalia.

By 4 a.m., the Highway Patrol’s incident map showed the northbound span of the Howard Frankland had also been closed. Traffic cameras in the area showed water from Tampa Bay spilling onto the roadway.

The eastbound lanes of the Courtney Campbell Causeway were also closed due to storm surge and flooding, the Highway Patrol said in a news release issued about 6:15 a.m.

Shortly before 8 a.m., the Highway Patrol that the southbound lanes of the Howard Frankland Bridge had also been closed.

The Gandy Bridge remained opened as of that time, troopers said.

The Highway Patrol urged people to stay off the road until conditions improve.

Idalia was upgraded Wednesday to a Category 3 storm as it barreled north toward Florida’s Big Bend region and was expected to strengthen to a Category 4 storm before landfall.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

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