Sunshine Skyway Bridge, Tampa

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The 5.5-mile long Sunshine Skyway Bridge carries I-275 and US-19 over the mouth of Tampa Bay connecting St. Petersburg and Sarasota. The bridge was constructed from 1982 to 1987 to replace the original Sunshine Skyway Bridge that was badly damaged in a boat collision in 1980. The first bridge here had one span built in 1954 and the second span in 1969. The bridge suffered tremendous damage in 1980 when the freighter MV Summit Venture crashed into a pier during a storm, casing a quarter mile of the bridge to collapse, and killing 35 people.

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The Sunshine Skyway bridge is not only one of the most beautiful bridges in the United states, it is also the 3rd most poular for Suicidal Bridge jumpers.

The Skyway also boasts the "Worlds longest fishing pier". Created after the original span was knocked down by a ship crashing into it on May 9, 1980.

Tampa Bay to Busch Garden,if you drive take I-275 in Tampa to the Busch Blv.exit 33 turn left / east/ onto Busch Blv and follow the sign.
Three long bridges link Tampa with Clearwater and
St. Petersburg, on the Pinellas Peninsula.

Sunshine Skyway Bridge,Tampa Bay,Florida,U.S.A.