SR 589 (Suncoast Parkway 2) Pedestrian Bridge

Florida’s Turnpike Enterprise sought a professional engineering services firm to design a pedestrian bridge structure to carry pedestrians on Suncoast Multi-Use Trail safely over US 98 adjacent to the Suncoast Parkway Section 2.  

Since the structure will span US 98, the bridge had to be designed with two main spans totaling approximately 260-feet.  The main span typical section consisted of two, 54-inch deep Florida I-Beams (FIBs) supporting a cast-in-place concrete deck and barriers with a fenced enclosure.  At the north end of the bridge, the trail ties into the proposed finish grade at an MSE Wall supported embankment.  At the south end of the main spans, the pedestrians use an approximately 600-foot long switchback ramp to reach the trail running parallel to US 98 below the bridge.  The switchback ramp consists of a flat slab superstructure and single column piers supported on spread footings.  

The existing Suncoast Trail carries pedestrians and cyclists along 42-miles through Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties. The new bridge over US 98 will be the continuation point of the trail into Citrus County, Florida as part of the Suncoast Parkway 2 project. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to cross safely over US 98 to access the new Suncoast Trail extension. Safety upgrades for the bridge include aluminum railing along the switchbacks and a fenced enclosure over US 98.