Coast Guard Targets Bridges for 24-Hour Security During RNC

Anchoring and mooring near three major bridges in the Tampa Bay area will be banned during the Republican National Convention, the Coast Guard announced.

In addition, seven draw bridges will be kept in the down, locked position, even to tug boats, during the RNC.

The Coast Guard announced that it has established 15 additional federal security zones; all are coastal and along waterways. The heightened security begins Saturday and ends Aug. 31 at 1 a.m.

Security zones within the Intracoastal Waterway extend from the Clearwater Memorial Bridge south to the Pinellas Bayway Structures A, B & C. ( Specific bridge names and closure times are noted in the graphic attached to this article.)

Three Tampa Bay bridges will have 24-hour security zones.

They are:

• Courtney Campbell Causeway,
• Howard Frankland Bridge,
• Gandy Bridge.

Anchoring, loitering, mooring and stopping are prohibited within 50 yards of designated bridges during the times and dates listed above.

Seven bridges will be left in the down and closed position while the security zones are being enforced:

• Walsingham Road/Indian Rocks Beach Bridge (CR 688),
• Park Boulevard Bridge (CR 594) ,
• Welch/Tom Stuart Causeway/150th Ave. Bridge,
• Treasure Island Causeway Bridge
• Corey Causeway/Pasadena Ave. Bridge
• Pasadena Ave. Bridge
• Pinellas Bayway Structures A, B and C (SR 679)
• John’s Pass Bridge.

Tugs and tugs with tows are not exempt from this deviation.

Prudent mariners should plan for possible delays and check the weather before heading out on the water. Any future updates will be posted: http://homeport.uscg.mil, located in the Sector St. Petersburg Port Directory, under the Safety and Security Alert links.

For questions, please email RNCWaterways@uscg.mil, or call 727-265-5353.