State Road 686A - Gateway Expressway

State Road 686A is part of the Gateway Expressway, an elevated toll road system linking Interstate 275 with U.S. 19, CR 611 (49th Street N) at the Bayside Bridge and St Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE). SR 686A branches north from SR 690 above the intersection of 118th Avenue N (CR 296) and 40th Street N to a half diamond interchange with SR 688 (Ulmerton Road) at SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard). The toll road lines the median of Roosevelt Boulevard northwest to PIE Airport and the exchange joining SR 686 with the south end of the Bayside Bridge.

Construction on the Gateway Expressway commenced on August 21, 2017. Costing $594.7 million, the overall project ran through early 2023 Spring 2024.¹ It also included the elevated expressway for SR 690 extending west from I-275 along 118th Avenue N (SR 296) to U.S. 19, and the addition of Express toll lanes on I-275 from south of SR 694 (Gandy Boulevard) to SR 687 (4th Street N). The Gateway Expressway opened to traffic after Noon on April 26, 2024.

East

The Gateway Expressway along SR 686A eastbound begins along a flyover joining the Bayside Bridge (CR 611) south with the toll road bypassing PIE Airport.
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SR 686A runs between the roadways of SR 686 along Roosevelt Boulevard.
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There are no exit ramps from SR 686A (Gateway Expressway) eastbound between CR 611 (49th Street N) and SR 690 above 118th Avenue N. Three entrance ramps however connect SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard) with the toll road east.
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The second entrance ramp from Roosevelt Boulevard connects St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE) with the Gateway Expressway eastbound.
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SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard) proceeds south to combine with SR 688 (Ulmerton Road) beyond the 2nd entrance ramp to SR 686A east.
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SR 686A (Gateway Expressway) spans SR 686/688 (Ulmerton Road) ahead of the third eastbound entrance ramp.
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The Gateway Expressway runs south adjacent to Showtime Speedway Pinellas Park before elevating southeast across 43rd Street N and CR 296 (118th Avenue N).
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The Gateway Expressway east concludes in on mile with ramps to Interstate 275 and the tolled Express Lane northbound.
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The SR 686A branch of the Gateway Expressway converges with the leg along SR 690 east ahead of the flyover above 34th Street N.
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West

Two lanes ascends onto SR 686A (Gateway Expressway) west from SR 690. SR 690 extends west to CR 296 (Bryan Dairy Road) and the freeway along U.S. 19.
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SR 686 curves northward along a flyover spanning CR 296 (118th Avenue N) at 40th Street N and across 43rd Street N.
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A half diamond interchange provides access to SR 688 (Ulmerton Road) from SR 686A (Gateway Expressway) westbound.
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A slip ramp lowers from SR 686A (Gateway Expressway) onto parallel SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard) westbound ahead of St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).
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The initial signs for SR 686A (Gateway Expressway) were unveiled during construction along SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard) westbound at St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport (PIE).
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The slip ramp providing access to the Gateway Expressway from SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard) westbound beyond SR 688 (Ulmerton Road) during construction.
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SR 686 west at a turn off to adjacent Fairchild Drive. Fairchild Drive is also accessible from SR 686A via the entrance ramp to CR 611 (Bayside Bridge) north.
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SR 686 (Roosevelt Boulevard) overtakes SR 686A at the north end of the Gateway Expressway and just ahead of the diamond interchange with CR 611 (49th Street N / Bayside Bridge).
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