San Martin Bridge

San Martin Bridge Replacement Project

Pinellas County, in coordination with FDOT, is conducting a Project Development and Environment (PD&E) Study to evaluate alternatives for improvements to the San Martin Bridge over Riviera Bay. The limits of the study extend from Tallahassee Drive to Weedon Drive in St. Petersburg.

 

Rehabilitation and replacement alternatives evaluated during the study were presented to the community at the Public Alternatives Workshop in 2016. To view information presented at this meeting, including community comments, or view the recorded presentation visit the Community Outreach page.

 

The project team is interested in your ideas and input. Opportunities for community involvement will be provided throughout the study. Check the Community Outreach page for updates, upcoming public meeting dates and general information as the project progresses.

Current Phase

Completed

Design

2026

Pinellas County held a virtual project information meeting on Nov. 18, 2021, via Zoom, to share information and answer questions about the PD&E study for the San Martin Blvd. Bridge.

 

San Martin Bridge Replacement Background

Project Description

Pinellas County is conducting a Project Development & Environment (PD&E) Study for the rehabilitation or replacement of the existing San Martin Bridge over Riviera Bay. The limits of the study extend from Tallahassee Drive to Weedon Drive in St. Petersburg, Florida. The Project Schedule for the PD&E Study is provided in Table 1. 

This study is being conducted to meet the requirements of the Federal National Environmental Policy Act, known as NEPA, so that future phases of the project are eligible for federal funding. The NEPA process requires that the no-build alternative is considered a viable alternative for the duration of the study.

San Martin Bridge Need for Improvements

The existing bridge was built in 1962 and is nearing the end of its service life. The bridge is functionally obsolete primarily due to its narrow width. The shoulder and sidewalk widths do not meet current design standards. The sidewalks also do not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Existing railings along the bridge are substandard. The bridge is considered scour critical, which indicates that the foundations of the bridge may be susceptible to undermining during major storm events. 

San Martin Bridge Preferred Alternative

Beginning in 2015, the study team evaluated conceptual alternatives for proposed bridge improvements including rehabilitation and replacement of the existing bridge. Consideration of transportation needs, engineering issues, navigation, potential environmental, social and physical impacts, and public input received throughout the study were considered in the selection of the Preferred Alternative. 

The Right-shifted (East) Fixed Span Alternative, which includes a new fixed bridge shifted to the right (East) of the existing bridge, shown in Figure 1, was selected as the Preferred Alternative. The proposed Bridge Typical Section, shown in Figure 2, is 58 feet, 11 inches wide and includes two 11-foot travel lanes and two 7-foot buffered bike lanes. A 6-foot-wide sidewalk and a 12-foot-wide shared use path is provided for pedestrian access across the bridge. The bridge will be constructed in stages and San Martin Boulevard will remain open during construction. A comparison of the No Build and Preferred Alternative is shown in Table 2.