Bridge History

Frank Strumm, initial developer of Yacht Club Estates, originally refused to include this Road Tax in the YCE deed restrictions. He made an unsuccessful

attempt to persuade the City of St Petersburg to build a special bridge to Yacht Club Estates. Eventually, he was forced to give in and YCE homeowners

were also required to pay this fee.

Replacement of the Treasure Island Causeway Bridges was completed in 2007. Funding came from the Federal Government thanks to the assistance of

Congressman C.W. “Bill” Young. The funding came with the stipulation that toll collection would be ended. The $10 annual fee to Treasure Island for

use of its Causeway has also been eliminated due to the Federal funding.

The official grand opening on August 25, 2007 was marked by a Boat Parade Celebration. The new bridge is significantly higher than the original bridge

and the happy result is fewer openings for boat traffic, resulting in less interruption of vehicle traffic.

Treasure Island Bridge

The Treasure Island Causeway connects St. Petersburg with Treasure Island. It carries Pinellas County CR 150, also known as Central Avenue in St Petersburg, and 107^th Avenue in Treasure Island. The Treasure Island Bridge is actually a network of three bridges, two fixed and one draw bridge, the center bridge. The original Causeway was constructed with post-war WPA funds. Causeway and bridge completion in 1939 spurred development of the Gulf Beaches.

The Treasure Island Causeway was owned and maintained by the City of Treasure Island. How could this happen since the city limits dividing St. Petersburg and Treasure Island run right through the middle of the drawbridge? According to history, in exchange for Treasure Island owning and operating the causeway structures within the St. Petersburg city limits, St Petersburg obtained ownership to the St. Petersburg Municipal beach on the Gulf of Mexico within the Treasure Island city limits, which exists today.

City of Treasure Island identified an interesting income opportunity in this ownership agreement with St Petersburg. In 1955, an Agreement was reached with the original Causeway Isles Developer and the City of Treasure Island, that each lot owner of Causeway Isles would be required to pay an annual Road Tax of $10.00 to the City of Treasure Island. This tax was for the use of the Eastern Portion of the Treasure Island Causeway.