Platt Street Bridge Ribbon Cutting Marks End of Work

Officials on Wednesday will celebrate the completion of the year-and-half long to rehabilitate the Platt Street Bridge in downtown Tampa.

After a ceremony at the northwest foot of the bridge, representatives of the partners on the project will be driven across it in Chevy Volt electric cars in honor of its new modern mechanical upgrades.

Hillsborough County Commissioners will be joined by representatives of the City of Tampa and the Florida Department of Transportation at the 10 a.m. ceremony.

The $13.8 million project made headlines throughout last year due to heavy through one of the main access points to the southern end of downtown. Upon its reopening in January, the bridge still needed repair to its tender house, lighting and electrical components.

A complete rehabilitation of the bridge, originally built in 1924, was required as it had outlived its normal useful life span and needed to be upgraded to current standards. The major repairs included the reconditioning/replacement of mechanical bridge elements, replacement of the electrical bridge control system, structural concrete and steel repairs and more. The bridge has been restored to its original functionality and historical appearance, county officials said, including period lighting fixtures.

Limited parking for Wednesday's ribbon cutting ceremony will be available at the Publix across from Tony Jannus Park, where the opening comments will be held.

For more information, call Stacy Williams in the Hillsborough County Communications Department at 813-307-8381.