Approaching the Pinellas Bayway on Gulf Blvd.

Be in the left lane if you want to head east on the Pinellas Bayway. The right lane is if you are headed for Pass-A-Grille.

Headed to Interstate 275? This is the place!

If you are headed to Ft. DeSoto Park or the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, use the Pinellas Bayway to get you there. Once you leave the eastern bridge of the Pinellas Bayway you will arrive at Interstate 275's Exit 17. Additionally, Gulf Blvd. continues but FL 699 terminates as maintenance jurisdiction transitions from the Florida DOT to the City of St. Pete Beach.

Approaching the Pinellas Bayway toll plaza

Toll for the Pinellas Bayway is 50 cents for passenger vehicles and can be paid for using cash or SunPass.

Closeup of the Pinellas Bayway toll plaza

Traffic can back up all the way to here if the drawbridge is opened.

Eastbound on the Pinellas Bayway

This is on the low level section just before the drawbridge.

Drawbridge traffic signal

This traffic signal is normally green but will turn red when the drawbridge has to be opened.

Coming off the drawbridge

Here we see the condominiums of Isla Del Sol on either side of the highway.

Directional sign for Ft. DeSoto via FL 679

If you are headed for Ft. DeSoto, use FL 679 south via the Tierra Verde Bridge and through Tierra Verde to Ft. DeSoto (additional 35 cents toll required). If you are headed to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and Interstate 275, keep going.

Turnoff for Ft. DeSoto via FL 679

Headed for Ft. DeSoto and/or Tierra Verde? Here's the turnoff for FL 679 south.

Looking south on FL 679

FL 679 is the road to Ft. DeSoto. The road changes jurisdiction from Florida DOT to Pinellas County Government after the 35 cent toll bridge.

Eastbound crossing the middle bridge of the Pinellas Bayway

We're headed east onto the next island of the Pinellas Bayway. The high rise building to the right is Point Brittany. Also notice that we are on a section which was four-laned in the 1980's.

The eastern bridge of the Pinellas Bayway

This is the final bridge in the Pinellas Bayway system headed eastbound. From here there are some level crossings but no traffic signals all the way to Interstate 275.

Year marker and FDOT bridge number

The 1962 inscription denotes when the original Pinellas Bayway was completed. The 150050 is the Florida DOT bridge identification number; all bridges in Florida are identified in the same way.

Golf course path going under bridge

This is the Isla Del Sol golf course path that takes a trip underneath the Pinellas Bayway. Sure the developers of Isla Del Sol saved money by using an existing bridge to go under heavily traveled FL 682 rather than tunneling under the bridge elsewhere in this area.

Looking westbound on the Pinellas Bayway drawbridge

Like all bridges in the Pinellas Bayway system, notice the use of guardrails to separate pedestrian from vehicle traffic just like the old southbound span of the Sunshine Skyway.

Looking north on Boca Ciega Bay

You can see Gulfport in the distance from here.

Closeup of the drawbridge traffic signal

As mentioned earlier the traffic signal turns red (and the gates have to come down) when the bridge has to be opened. Notice the use of the mast arm, which is standard for all traffic signals in Florida.

The Pinellas Bayway drawbridge gates

These gates are lowered and the red lights blink when the bridge has to be opened. The left gate is probably the original 1962 gate while the right gate is newer.

Drawbridge fender system

Found at every bridge where it crosses a boat channel, the fender system protects piers from wayward boats. Notice the gauge showing the minimum clearance for boaters and the warning to stay off the wooden fenders. Also notice that the drawbridge on the Pinellas Bayway is also known as Structure C.

Bridge tender house

This is the bridge tender's house where the bridge tender controls the opening and closing of the Pinellas Bayway drawbridge. As you can see it is built at street level just like the Tierra Verde Bridge.

Steel grid decking

This is the part where the drawbridge moves when it has to be raised for boaters. Steel grid decks are known for their humming noise when you drive across.

Concrete grid deck

This is the concrete grid deck which serves as the transition from solid concrete deck to steel grid deck. Notice that when the bridge is opened the concrete grid deck goes downward into the machinery pit directly below where I am standing. Further on down below the solid concrete deck is where the couterweights are located.

Looking west on the Pinellas Bayway

This is headed towards St. Pete Beach. Notice the pictureseque Don Ce Sar resort to the right.

Waterfront homes on Boca Ciega Bay

Here is a view of the many waterfront homes in St. Pete Beach seen from the Pinellas Bayway headed west.

Another view of Boca Ciega Bay looking north

Here is another view of Boca Ciega Bay looking north towards Gulfport in the distance. The sandbar in the foreground turns into a little island at low tide.

View of the Tierra Verde Bridge

A good view of the Tierra Verde Bridge looking south from the Pinellas Bayway.

Under the Pinellas Bayway drawbridge

Here is a view of the Pinellas Bayway drawbridge looking west. Notice the original 1962 pile bents still there today.

Another underneath view of the Pinellas Bayway

Notice how the concrete bents (pilings) are arranged perfectly in line from here to the drawbridge machinery pit.

And another view from under the Pinellas Bayway

This is from under the eastbound lane.

Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

This is the sign erected by the Florida DOT on all bridges crossing the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. Notice the logo of the US Army Corps of Engineers to the left. Also notice that bicyclists are warned to walk their bikes across the steel grid deck span as it can get slippery.

Slippery when wet

Be careful when you cross the Pinellas Bayway drawbridge, especially the steel grid deck section.

Draw Bridge Ahead sign

This sign is a little smaller than the one at the Tierra Verde Bridge. It reminds motorists that there is a draw bridge around the corner and to be prepared to stop if needed.