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40th Avenue NE Bridge shut down for interim repairs ahead of replacement project

Posted at 12:18 PM, Apr 08, 2019
and last updated 2019-04-08 12:18:40-04

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Some St. Petersburg residents will now have to budget extra time to get to work and school. The 40th Avenue NE Bridge, which connects the Northeast Park and Shore Acres neighborhoods, shut down Monday for interim repairs ahead of a bridge replacement project.

Once it reopens, traffic will shift to one side of the bridge. The change will make room for pedestrian access, says Brejesh Prayman, St. Petersburg Director of Engineering and Capital Improvements.

“Shifting the traffic to one side of the bridge right now will have had to be done during the ultimate replacement so we’re shaving a little time off the ultimate replacement by doing this now,” said Prayman.

The bridge shut down for emergency repairs in August 2017 after the city found hidden structural issues. Prayman says the design of the new bridge is expected to be complete by the end of the year.

The bridge will be closed for interim repairs through Wednesday, May 22.

Drivers should detour using 62nd Avenue NE or 22nd Ave NE.