Skyway bridge closed; some shoulders open in Bay Area

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Florida Highway Patrol announced the Sunshine Skyway Bridge was closed as of 6:50 p.m. Saturday.

FHP said Saturday it would close the three major bridges between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties when wind speeds reached 40 miles per hour.

FHP said troopers will begin to secure the Skyway Bridge, Gandy Bridge, and Howard Frankland Bridge at sustained wind speeds of 40 mph.

Motorists should pay close attention to all travel advisories Saturday as these spans may soon close.

FDOT and FHP have opened emergency shoulder use (ESU) from Tampa to Orlando - on eastbound Interstate 4 from 50th Street to SR-429. Motorists should only use the left shoulder when directed by law enforcement and highway signs.

Maximum speed on the shoulder is 40 miles per hour.

Meanwhile, ESU has ended on I-75 from Wildwood to the Georgia state line. 

There is no contraflow or one-way operation in use on Florida state roadways.

FDOT and FHP say, although there are heavy pockets of evacuation traffic in some areas, traffic is flowing on this section of roadway

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