Florida 60 is a transpeninsular route that connects Clearwater in the west with Vero Beach in the east, passing through Tampa, Brandon, Bartow, and Lake Wales along the way. Unlike most routes that connect the western and eastern shores of Florida, the western end of Florida 60 is much more developed and congested than the eastern end. Florida 60 is 160.82 miles long, and it passes through five counties on its journey: Pinellas (11.205 miles), Hillsborough (approximately 37.991 miles eastbound), Polk (56.142 miles), Osceola (21.890 miles), and Indian River (33.592 miles eastbound).
Mileage: 160.82 (Source: Original Florida Route Log compiled by Justin Cozart)
Western Terminus - Clearwater Beach Island
Eastern Terminus - Florida A1A, Vero Beach
Eastbound Florida 60
Florida 60 begins its easterly journey in Pinellas County. Following Gulf to Bay Boulevard through Clearwater, Florida 60 encounters north-south Pinellas County Route 611 just prior to the Courtney Campbell Causeway over Old Tampa Bay. Pinellas County Route 611 is a major, north-south pseudo-freeway that extends north to Safety Harbor and East Lake and south via the Bayside Bridge to Pinellas Park, where it meets U.S. 19. Note the use of a grade separation at this intersection; Florida 60 traffic stops, while Pinellas County Route 611 traffic does not stop. Photo taken 12/21/03.
After crossing Old Tampa Bay via the Courtney Campbell Causeway, Florida 60 immediately prepares to meet Toll Florida 589, the Veterans Expressway. This toll route provides a north-south alternative to Interstate 275 that extends from near Tampa International Airport north to Pasco County and ultimately U.S. 98 in northern Hernando County. Florida 60 is the southern terminus of Toll Florida 589. Florida 60 is not a freeway, but it has some freeway characteristics including large overhead signs. However, its odd interchange with Toll Florida 589 includes some traffic signal controls, and there is a traffic signal ahead, just prior to reaching the Toll Florida 589 interchange. Photo taken 12/21/03.
After the traffic signal for the frontage road (which connects to the Bayport Plaza/Westshore Hyatt to the south of Courtney Campbell Causeway), the left lane of Florida 60 becomes the transition onto northbound Toll Florida 589. This ramp has a traffic signal where it intersects with westbound Florida 60 before turning north onto Toll Florida 589. The right three lanes continue on Florida 60 as the Memorial Highway, which angles southeast toward Interstate 275 and the airport. Photo taken 12/21/03.
The next exit along Florida 60 eastbound is the interchange with Florida 616, West Spruce Street. Some older maps show West Spruce Street as an extension of Florida 589, but it is signed as Florida 616. It is a short route that connects to Boy Scout Boulevard before ending at U.S. 92/Dale Mabry Highway to the east. This exit also serves as the primary connection to Tampa International Airport. Once on the transition ramp to Florida 616, a loop ramp provides the connection north into the airport. Photo taken 12/21/03.
After Florida 616, the next exit along eastbound Florida 60/Memorial Highway is the junction with Interstate 275. Interstate 275 travels north (east) to meet Interstate 4 en route to Orlando and Interstate 75 en route to Ocala and Georgia. Interstate 275 heads southwest over Old Tampa Bay to enter Pinellas County and provide connections to St. Petersburg and the Sunshine Skyway en route to Southwestern Florida (Sarasota, Venice, Punta Gorda, Fort Myers, and Naples). Photo taken 12/21/03.
The right lane of Florida 60 east becomes exit only for Interstate 275 south, and the left three lanes continue along the Memorial Highway. Use the middle two lanes to reach Interstate 275 north to Interstate 4 east and Interstate 75 north. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Eastbound Florida 60/Memorial Highway reaches the ramp to southbound Interstate 275/Howard Frankland Bridge. The next exit is for Interstate 275 north to Interstate 4 east and Interstate 75 north. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Now passing under the Interstate 275 freeway, eastbound Florida 60/Memorial Highway reaches the ramp to northbound Interstate 275 to Interstate 4 east and Interstate 75 north. Florida 60 continues east along West Kennedy Boulevard en route to downtown near the Hillsborough River. To connect to the Toll Florida 618/Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway, continue east on Florida 60 until Willow Avenue. Turn south on Willow Avenue to the tollway. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Florida 60/Kennedy Boulevard continues east, merging with Florida 685 north at the intersection with Henderson Boulevard. One can state that Florida 685 is unsigned while cosigned with Florida 60 or that Florida 60 connects the two discontinuous sections of Florida 685. In any event, Florida 60 enters downtown via Kennedy Boulevard. At the intersection of Kennedy Boulevard and Florida Avenue, Florida 60 and Florida 685 split. Florida 685 turns north onto Business U.S. 41/Florida Avenue, while east Florida 60 and south Business U.S. 41 continue along Kennedy Boulevard. The two routes (Florida 60 and Business U.S. 41) meet Toll Florida 618/Crosstown Expressway for the first time near the intersection with Florida 45/Nebraska Avenue. Florida 45 heads north on Nebraska Avenue, and Florida 45 south joins with Business U.S. 41 south and Florida 60 east. Since the Crosstown Expressway crosses Florida 60 from the southwest toward the northeast, a left turn is required to access eastbound Toll Florida 618 en route to unincorporated Brandon and Interstate 75. Eastbound Florida 60 continues along Kennedy Boulevard along with Business U.S. 41/Florida 685 south. Photo taken 12/27/01.
Florida 60 east, Florida 45 south, and Business U.S. 41 south continue east via Kennedy Boulevard, then turn north briefly onto Channelside Drive, then continue east via Adamo Drive immediately after the state road passes under the Crosstown Expressway (Toll Florida 618). Business U.S. 41/Florida 45 is former U.S. 541, a U.S. highway that was commissioned in 1932 and eliminated in 1951 in favor of Business U.S. 41 because the route was entirely within one state and was very short in length. At this intersection, Business U.S. 41/Florida 45 turn south on 22nd Street, while Florida 60 continues east on Adamo Drive. Note the absence of signs for Florida 45 here. Photo taken 12/27/01.
East of the Tampa metropolitan area, Florida 60 intersects U.S. 17 and U.S. 98 near Bartow. Here, Florida 60 meets U.S. 98 northbound; the two routes continue east on a bypass around downtown Bartow, and they eventually meet U.S. 17. None of the U.S. routes actually enter downtown Bartow; the only numbered road in downtown Bartow is Florida 60A which is signed Business Florida 60. U.S. 98 and Florida 60 travel north of downtown, while U.S. 17 stays pretty far east of downtown. Note that U.S. 98 is signed north-south through the peninsula of Florida and east-west through the panhandle of Florida. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Westbound Florida 60
Westbound Florida 60/Adamo Drive meets Business U.S. 41/Florida 45, 21st Street and Florida 585, 22nd Street east of downtown Tampa. This photo shows the scene along westbound after the signal for one-way, northbound 22nd Street (Florida 585). The next traffic signal is for Business U.S. 41 and Florida 45 south along 22nd Street to Palm River and Causeway Boulevard (Florida 676). Photo taken 12/21/03.
Use Business U.S. 41/Florida 45 south to reach the Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway (Toll Florida 618). Note the use of the older white and black trailblazer. "Toll Florida 618" shields used to be relatively hard to find (almost non-existent in the late 1990s), but they are becoming more and more commonplace as new shields are installed. Florida 60 continues west along with northbound Business U.S. 41 and Florida 45 along Adamo Drive. They will stay merged together until reaching Nebraska Avenue. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Business U.S. 41 north, Florida 45 north, and Florida 60 west turn left (south!) on Channelside Drive so the routes can make the connection between Adamo Drive and Kennedy Boulevard. The three routes only remain on Channelside Drive for a few blocks, then turn west again on Kennedy Boulevard. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Westbound Florida 60 and southbound Florida 685 prepare to divide at the intersection between Kennedy Boulevard and Henderson Boulevard. Florida 685 is major route through Tampa. The western section begins at its intersection with U.S. 92/Gandy Boulevard and Manhattan Avenue near the eastern end of the Gandy Bridge, then aims north along Manhattan Avenue and Henderson Avenue, and it then connects to Florida 60/Kennedy Boulevard. The second section resumes from Florida 60 by heading north again via Business U.S. 41/North Florida Avenue. Photo taken 12/21/03.
The right two lanes carry Florida 60 west along Kennedy Boulevard, and Florida 685 turns southwest to connect to U.S. 92 near the eastern end of the Gandy Bridge. Together, westbound Florida 60 and southbound Florida 685 offer a local alternative to Toll Florida 618/Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Westbound Florida 60 passes under Interstate 275 and narrows as additional lanes enter the highway from the Interstate. These lanes will make Florida 60 a much wider highway as it approaches the airport and the exit for Florida 589. Photo taken 12/27/01.
Between Interstate 275 and the exit to the airport, through traffic on Florida 60 west and Toll Florida 589/Veterans Expressway north are advised to remain in the left three lanes. The right lane exits only into Tampa International Airport. Photo taken 12/27/01.
Westbound Florida 60/Memorial Highway reaches the airport exit. The next exit is Junction Florida 589/Veterans Expressway. There is no access to eastbound Florida 616/West Spruce Street. Photo taken 12/27/01.
After the airport exit, westbound Florida 60/Memorial Highway and northbound Florida 589/Veterans Expressway prepare to divide. Use the left three lanes to remain on westbound Florida 60, and stay in the right two lanes for northbound Toll Florida 589/Veterans Expressway. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Florida 60/Memorial Highway widen to five lanes along westbound as it prepares to split. There is a traffic signal ahead for through traffic on westbound Florida 60 due to a lack of flyover ramp, but Florida 589 traffic will not have to stop to connect to the toll road. Photo taken 12/21/03.
The aforementioned traffic signal comes into view for traffic continuing west along Florida 60/Memorial Highway, while the right three lanes continue north along Florida 589/Veterans Expressway. From here, Florida 589 extends north into Pasco and Hernando Counties as the Suncoast Parkway. Photo taken 12/21/03.
Westbound Florida 616/West Spruce Street
Westbound Florida 616/West Spruce Street comes to its western terminus here, as the two left lanes merge onto westbound Florida 60/Memorial Highway (to Toll Florida 589 north) and the right lane exits into the Tampa International Airport.
