The Treasure Island Causeway is a crossing of Boca Ciega Bay located in Pinellas County, Florida. The Treasure Island Causeway connects the city of Treasure Island to St. Petersburg as a component of Pinellas County Route 150. The Treasure Island Causeway was original completed during 1939 as a tolled facility. The three current bridges which comprise parts of the larger Treasure Island Causeway were constructed from 2003-2007.
Part 1; the history of Treasure Island Causeway
The Treasure Island Causeway connects the cities of Treasure Island and St. Petersburg via the waters of Boca Ciega Bay. The original Treasure Island Causeway opened during 1939 as a continuation of Central Avenue from St. Petersburg to 107th Avenue on Treasure Island. The original Treasure Island Causeway can be seen on the 1943 United States Geological Survey Maps of Bay Pines and St. Petersburg. The Treasure Island Causeway can be seen connecting pre-1945 Florida State Road 233 on Treasure Island to Central Avenue in St. Petersburg. The original Treasure Island Causeway was a tolled structure but was not part of the State Road System.
The original Treasure Island Causeway can be seen in a series of undated postcards.
The three bridges comprising the Treasure Island Causeway were deemed to be structurally deficient following an engineering survey during 2002. The western and eastern bridges of the Treasure Island Causeway were completed by October 2004. The new central bridge along Treasure Island Causeway was dedicated during August 2007. The center Treasure Island Causeway bridge is a bascule span measuring 1,014 feet in length. Upon reopening the Treasure Island Causeway was no longer tolled.
Part 2; a drive on the Treasure Island Causeway and Pinellas County Route 150
From Florida State Road 699 in Treasure Island the eastbound lanes of the Treasure Island Causeway are accessible from 107th Avenue. Pinellas County Route 150 is approximately an 8.1-mile highway which is comprised of 107th Avenue, Treasure Island Causeway and Central Avenue to Florida State Road 687 in St. Petersburg.
Pinellas County Route 150 eastbound transitions from 107th Avenue to the Treasure Island Causeway. Pinellas County Route 150 crosses the westernmost Treasure Island Causeway bridge to Paradise Island. Paradise Island is located in the city limits of Treasure Island.
Pinellas County Route 150 eastbound crosses over Paradise Island and the center bascule span of the Treasure Island Causeway. Pinellas County Route 150 enters the city of St. Petersburg along Central Avenue upon landing in the Causeway Islands. The Treasure Island Causeway center bascule span has a vertical clearance of 18 feet above the waters of Boco Ciega Bay when closed.
Pinellas County Route 150 eastbound crosses the eastern span of the Treasure Island Causeway and intersects Florida State Road 693 at Pasadena Avenue.
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