Northbound traffic on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge ground to a halt Sunday after a crash at the 12-mile post that troopers said was fatal. The Florida Highway Patrol urged drivers to steer clear of the span and warned that delays could stretch for hours. Emergency crews stayed on the bridge into the afternoon as investigators worked the scene and traffic stacked up along I-275.
Traffic alert on the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The northbound lanes are closed at the 12 mile post due to a fatal traffic crash. Motorists should seek alternate northbound routes for the next several hours.
— FHP Tampa (@FHPTampa) April 5, 2026
Official Alert From FHP
According to FHP Tampa, all northbound lanes are closed at the 12-mile post while troopers investigate the crash. The agency advised motorists to use alternate northbound routes and to build in extra travel time, noting that the closure could last for several hours. The social media alert was the first public notice of the incident.
Local Reporting
FOX 13 reported that both northbound lanes were blocked and that one southbound lane was restricted as emergency crews worked the scene. The station said a single vehicle was involved in the crash and that troopers had not immediately released details on the cause or the number of people hurt or killed.
How Drivers Should Respond
Anyone planning to head north across Tampa Bay should brace for heavy delays and consider postponing nonessential trips until the bridge fully reopens. For current traffic conditions and detour options, check FL511 or your preferred traffic app, and follow directions from troopers and bridge personnel on scene.
Past Closures And Context
Closures on the Sunshine Skyway have a history of tangling cross-bay traffic. Last year, law enforcement briefly shut down both directions of the bridge while investigating a suspicious vehicle on the span. WWSB reported that multi-hour shutdown, a reminder that any incident on the 4-mile bridge can quickly ripple across the region’s commute…