In June, 1982, construction began on this 4 mile, 6.4 km. bridge across Tampa Bay, Florida. This massive bridge was equipped with a bridge protection system, designed by Parsons Brinkerhoff. This protection system was developed to withstand an impact from an 87,000-ton tanker traveling at 10 knots due to prior issues.
The Sunshine Skyway Bridge has a main span of 1200 ft., 365.7 m. and a vertical clearance of 193 ft., 58.8 m.. Completed in April, 1987, at a construction cost of approximately $245 million, the bridge safely carries four lanes of traffic (20,000 cars a day) back and forth from Pinellas County (St. Petersburg) to Manatee County.
PRECAUTIONS: Intermediate to advanced riders. Gets crowded fast. Bottom can have sharp things (booties recommended). Rocks, bridges and the interstate near by.
WIND DIRECTIONS: NNE (usually gusty), NE, ENE, E, ESE, SSE
The only brick and mortar shop in the Tampa area with 14,000 square feet of merchandise!
Website: http://www.watersportswest.com/
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