On the 45th anniversary of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge disaster, which claimed 35 lives, visitors gathered at the Skyway Memorial at the north end of the bridge to remember those lost and reflect on the bridge’s safety as new federal concerns surface. The solemn commemoration comes just months after a tragic bridge collapse in Baltimore prompted federal investigators to examine the safety of major bridges across the country. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) flagged 68 bridges, including the Skyway, for lacking updated risk assessments, specifically regarding the threat of collapse if struck by a ship. “I remember back then. I’m thankful I wasn’t on the road when it happened,” said Noreen Dent, a memorial visitor. “I’m glad that people can still remember that-you know what I mean? I’m glad that people made a memorial out here for those people.” The Skyway Bridge disaster remains vivid in the minds of many, especially as they travel over the span. “Very confident, but you're always going to remember going across the bridge that day that it happened,” said Les Bartholf, another visitor at the memorial. Safety experts say significant improvements have been made since the disaster. Mark Luther, a marine science expert at the University of South Florida and a recognized authority on Skyway Bridge safety, explained that the bridge is now among the most protected in the world. “One of their prime goals was to make sure that this bridge would be as difficult to knock down as they could possibly make it,” Luther said. The bridge is defended by massive concrete dolphins, which are barriers designed to absorb the impact of a ship. The bridge is also guarded technically by what’s called the PORTS system, a network of 36 sensors at 15 sites. “Again, measuring wind, waves, currents, tide, fog, air, gap, and it comes in every six minutes by satellite and cellular modem and line of sight radio,” Luther explained. 10 Tampa Bay reached out to the Florida Department of Transportation, which owns the Skyway Bridge, to ask about any new safety enhancements in the pipeline.