After about 40 years of planning, ten years after approval and seven years of construction, Pinellas County has a new expressway. The tolled Gateway Expressway which consists of two portions, opened last Friday is supposed to provide an alternate to I-275 and US 19 through portions of central Pinellas County as well as connecting the two roads (similar to the Crosstown-I-4 connector in Hillsborough County).

Once again Florida is set on rapid highway building to catch up with growth from previous decades while avoiding a proper development of mass transit or alternative transit options. It was be interesting to see if this highway which so much money and time has been invested in makes any sort of difference.