Skyway 10K Race Supports Military Families

ST. PETERSBURG (FOX 13) - Sunday morning, cars were turned away from all northbound lanes of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. 

The shutdown was for a good cause. Runners were raising money for military families.

At 4 a.m. Sunday, Florida Highway Patrol troopers closed all northbound lanes until the Skyway 10K race ended - around 10 a.m.

Around 7,000 runners ran the steep incline of the Skyway.

They were bused from Tropicana Field to the south side of the bridge. Then they raced across before being bused to downtown St. Pete for an awards ceremony. 

All southbound lanes of the bridge were open to traffic, as usual.

This was the first race across the Skyway since it reopened after collapsing in the 1980s.

The race is expected to raise more than half a million dollars for the Armed Forces Families Foundation. Runners came from around the world.

Skyway 10K spokesman James Judge says all 7,000 tickets were sold within four days of being available online.

“It’s incredible. This is ranked the No. 3 bridge in the world,” Judge said. “This is a really good cause for military families.”