St. Pete to remove rainbow road art from intersections after state denies appeal

The city of St. Petersburg will remove public art located on roadways at five intersections after the state denied its request for an exception.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) had notified the city that the intersections were not in compliance with the Engineering and Operations Memorandum No. 25-01 regarding traffic control and street design.

The city requested an exception, but on Friday received word that it was denied. The letter reminded the city that noncompliance with its order to remove the street art would result in the state pursuing the “withholding of state funds.”

Mayor Ken Welch shared images of the letters, as well as one from the city informing the state that it would comply with removal. He said the decision to remove the art came after consultati