Which Florida bridge, opened in 1987, carries Interstate 275 across Tampa Bay with a cable-stayed main span?

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is the Florida bridge opened in 1987 that carries Interstate 275 across Tampa Bay with a cable-stayed main span.

The current bridge connects St. Petersburg and the Bradenton area across the mouth of Tampa Bay. Its central cable-stayed section is supported by a tall yellow-painted diamond-shaped pylon and fanlike stay cables, creating one of Florida’s most recognizable highway views.

The present crossing replaced an earlier cantilever bridge whose southbound span collapsed in 1980 after the freighter Summit Venture struck it during a severe storm. Thirty-five people died in the disaster. The replacement was designed with stronger protection and greater clearance for ships.

The official name is the Bob Graham Sunshine Skyway Bridge, honoring former Florida governor and senator Bob Graham. Drivers often use “Skyway” informally for the entire crossing, but the bridge is not the same as Tampa Bay’s older local bridges.