MEXICO CITY, Dec 9 (Reuters) - Mexico's Cemex is helping

build a $865 million bridge in U.S. state of Florida set to open

next spring, the cement maker announced on Monday, adding that

the project near the city of Tampa will help with hurricane

preparedness.

The Howard Frankland Bridge will connect Tampa and the St.

Petersburg area, with Cemex supplying some 141,000 cubic yards

of concrete and nearly 104,000 metric tons of aggregates so far.