It comes just a day after a deadly crash in a construction zone on the bridge. FDOT said it will likely be at least Jan. 19 before the traffic shifts begin.

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Overnight closures that were set to take place on the Howard Frankland Bridge this week have been postponed, according to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

All southbound lanes on the bridge were set to close overnight for construction work, with crews aiming to complete major overhead sign structures as part of a much larger project aimed at transforming travel across Tampa Bay. 

But FDOT said it will likely be at least Jan. 19 before the traffic shifts begin. 

The announcement comes just a day after a deadly crash in a construction zone on the bridge. State troopers said a Georgia man was driving southbound. Meanwhile, a Tampa man driving a Ford F-550 commercial cab truck was working in an active construction zone in the area for the company Archer Western-Traylor Brothers. He and two other construction workers were placing traffic cones in the roadway.

Troopers said the Georgia man did not yield to the workers, entered the work zone and went into the closed lane before crashing into the Ford truck.

The Georgia man died at the scene, while the Tampa man and two other construction workers inside the truck were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries.

When the closures do occur, FDOT is urging drivers to plan ahead, follow posted detours and allow extra travel time.

Previous 10 Tampa Bay News reporting contributed to this story.