Courtney Campbell Causeway - Today

Today

In its current form, the Courtney Campbell Causeway stretches approximately 9.9 miles (15.9 km) from eastern Clearwater to Tampa's Rocky Point island and subsequently to the mainland of western Tampa. The topographical causeway is broken by two elevated spans that allow watercraft access to and from Old Tampa Bay.

There are two beaches along the Causeway: Ben T. Davis Municipal Beach at the east end and an unnamed beach owned by the DOT on the west end. Frontage roads accessible at several points along the route run alongside the main four-lane road and are broken up by the bridge spans. A public boat ramp exists on the northern side just east of the largest bridge span.

Because of its lower capacity, lower posted speed limits, and lack of elevation coupled with the numerous palm and mangrove vegetation along the route, the Causeway offers some of the most picturesque views of any major road in the Tampa Bay area.

As of 2007, the Florida DOT is conducting a study to further enhance the Causeway with the addition of a recreational trail, likely supplanting the less-used frontage road on the north side.

As of 2010, Florida DOT has constructed a service road as part of the Airport Interchange project. When the gate is unlocked, this will serve as a bike path connecting Cypress Road (at Cypress Point Park), Tampa to the Causeway and Rocky Point Island. Additionally, a bike path connecting the Causeway to Dana Shores Drive and Town 'n' Country (with a street connection to the Upper Tampa Bay Trail) has been paved. Given the demolition of the Friendship Trail Bridge, this bicycle link will become an important connection across Tampa Bay.