The Sunshine Skyway Bridge spans the mouth of Tampa Bay between St. Petersburg and Terra Ceia, carrying Interstate 275 and U.S. Route 19 on one of Florida’s best-known transportation links. The crossing evolved from ferry service into a major bridge route after the original span opened in 1954 and a parallel span was added in 1971. Its history was transformed in 1980 by two maritime disasters, including the collapse of part of the southbound bridge after the freighter MV Summit Venture struck a pier, killing 35 people. The current cable-stayed bridge opened in 1987 with stronger ship-collision protections, while remnants of the old bridge became fishing piers.