Florida 589 is the Veterans Expressway in the metropolitan Tampa area, and it was extended in 2001 to connect to the Suncoast Parkway. Now Florida 589 connects Interstate 275 near the Tampa International Airport with U.S. 98 near Brooksville in a continuous limited access segment.
The map of the Suncoast Parkway section shows plans to extend the highway to U.S. 19 in Inverness. Due to protests over environmental concerns, the road was terminated at-grade at U.S. 98, close to the Hernando/Citrus County line. The project is now complete, and there will be no further extension into Citrus County at this time.
Also, like most (if not all) Florida toll roads, Florida 589 uses the SunPass electronic toll collection system. All three mainline tolls on the Suncoast Parkway section also use dedicated full-speed lanes for SunPass users, taking them completely around the toll booths to collect their toll at 70mph. The approaches are marked up to one and one-half miles in advance. (Information courtesy of Jason Triolo.)
Northbound Florida 589
Toll Florida 589 splits from Florida 60 just northwest of Tampa International Airport, after the Florida 616 interchange. Florida 589 continues north as a freeway, while Florida 60 turns west to cross Tampa Bay via the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Almost immediately, the character of the state road changes, as Florida 589 becomes Interstate standard (compare this photo with the next picture). The first exit along this nascent freeway is Exit 2B, Independence Parkway (left exit), followed by Exit 3, Junction Hillsborough County Route 576, Memorial Highway. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The Independence Parkway interchange marks the transition of Florida 589 from the original highway into the new Veterans Expressway, which is operated by Florida's Turnpike Enterprise. Years in planning, the tolled Veterans Parkway is the final alignment for a long-proposed freeway corridor northwest of Tampa. Other alignments considered for this freeway include the Dale Mabry Highway corridor, which would have been prohibitively expensive. After much design and community outreach, a decision was made in January 1987 to use current Veterans Expressway corridor. This freeway would extend from Florida 60 north to Lutz, and it was completed between August 1992 and September 1994, when the toll road opened to traffic. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Northbound Toll Florida 589/Veterans Parkway reaches Exit 2B, Independence Parkway. For a faster connection to westbound Hillsborough County Route 576/Memorial Highway, use Independence Parkway. (Or continue north on Florida 589 to Exit 3, which connects directly onto Memorial Highway via a right exit). After this exit, Florida 589 straddles the two sides of Eisenhower Parkway, thus rendering Eisenhower Parkway into a glorified frontage system, with one-way frontage roads on either side of the freeway. Photo taken 12/07/03.
After the Hillsborough County Route 576/Memorial Highway interchange, Toll Florida 589 next approaches Exit 4, Junction Florida 580, Hillsborough Avenue. Florida 580 forms the northern boundary of Tampa International Airport, so the Veterans Expressway begins to pull away from the airport. Use Florida 580 west to Town 'n Country and Pinellas County; eastbound Florida 580 connects the neighborhoods of North Tampa, and it meets U.S. 92 at the Dale Mabry Highway interchange. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The first toll ahead signs appear on a blue tab connected to the guide sign for Exit 4, Junction Florida 580 (Hillsborough Avenue). Note the Eisenhower Boulevard one-way frontage road continues north alongside the freeway through this area. However, the frontage road will end at the Florida 580 interchange, thus ending any similarities to the Interstate 595/Florida 84 frontage road system in Broward County. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Northbound Toll Florida 589 reaches Exit 4, Junction Florida 580/Hillsborough Avenue east to North Tampa and west to Town 'n Country and Pinellas County. Photo taken 12/07/03.
After the Florida 580 interchange, a mainline toll plaza appears for all northbound traffic (two miles advance sign). Photo taken 12/07/03.
A median sign identifies Florida 589 as a part of Florida's Turnpike Enterprise. SunPass is accepted on Florida 589, like all other segments of the Florida Turnpike System. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The next two exits along northbound are Exit 6A, Junction Hillsborough County Route 584/Waters Avenue and Exit 6B, a spur to Anderson Road northbound/southbound. This sign is somewhat misleading, since Hillsborough County Route 584 only follows Waters Avenue, not Anderson Road. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Northbound Toll Florida 589/Veterans Expressway reaches Exit 6A, Junction Hillsborough County Route 584, Waters Avenue. Use Hillsborough County Route 584 east to North Tampa and west to Town 'n Country. The county route begins at Hillsborough County Route 589 (Sheldon Road) and ends at Hillsborough County Route 587A (Armenia Avenue). Photo taken 12/07/03.
The next two exits along northbound are Exit 6B, Anderson Road and Exit 7, Linebaugh Road. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The aforementioned mainline toll plaza is in place just prior to Exit 6B, at a cost of one dollar for passenger vehicles in 2003. Photo taken 12/07/03.
To make the exit onto Anderson Road, use the left three toll booths to make the payment, then exit left. All other toll plazas serve through traffic on northbound Florida 589. Photo taken 12/07/03.
View of the toll plaza as found along northbound just prior to the Anderson Road interchange. Photo taken 12/07/03.
A butterfly gantry is used to separate the traffic from Exit 6B (left exit) and mainline Florida 589 after the toll plaza. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 7, Linebaugh Avenue, one mile. Linebaugh Avenue heads east to connect with Florida 580 and Busch Boulevard (en route to Busch Gardens amusement park), and it travels west toward Tampa Downs Race Track. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Northbound Toll Florida 589/Veterans Expressway reaches Exit 7, Linebaugh Avenue. Florida 589 continues north with two through lanes in each direction. The next exit is Exit 9, Junction Hillsborough County Route 593, Gunn Highway. Photos taken 08/22/03 and 12/07/03.
Northbound Toll Florida 589/Veterans Expressway reaches Exit 9, Junction Hillsborough County Route 593, Gunn Highway. Hillsborough County Route 593 follows Gunn Highway southeast toward North Tampa and Florida 580/Busch Boulevard. To the northwest, the county road travels toward Citrus Park. Photos taken 08/22/03 and 12/07/03.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 10, Ehrlich Road west to Citrus Park and east to Bearrs Avenue (Florida 678). Photo taken 12/07/03.
After a second mainline toll plaza, Florida 589 next reaches a diamond interchange with Hutchinson Road in Northdale. This is the last interchange that serves the northern suburbs of Tampa, although growth is rapidly expanding the developed areas in this part of Hillsborough County. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The next exit along northbound is the split between the Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway. Toll Florida 589 continues north along the Suncoast Parkway (left lanes), while Florida 568 takes over as the (hidden) route designation for Veterans Expressway. Florida 568 is essentially a sort of spur route (three miles long) that connects Florida 589 with Florida 597/Dale Mabry Highway. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The split between the Veterans Expressway and Suncoast Parkway comes into view. Florida 568 will depart via the right two lanes, while the left two lanes continue as Florida 589. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Northbound Florida 589 reaches Exit 13, Junction Florida 568 east to Florida 597, Dale Mabry Highway. Photo taken 12/07/03.
A second identification sign is placed here, after the Florida 568/Veterans Expressway split, where Toll Florida 589 is now identified as part of the Suncoast Parkway. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 14, Junction Hillsborough County Route 685A, which connects Hillsborough County Route 587 (Gunn Highway) to the west with Florida 597 (Dale Mabry Highway) to the east. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Toll Florida 589/Suncoast Parkway departs Hillsborough County and enters Pasco County. The first exit in Pasco County is Exit 19, Junction Florida 54, one mile. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Florida 54 begins in Elfers and ends in Zephyrhills, connecting U.S. 19 on the Gulf Coast with U.S. 98-301 and Interstate 75. The state road is separated by a section of Pasco County Route 54 near Interstate 75; the state sections are between U.S. 19 and Land O' Lakes and between Florida 581 and U.S. 98-301. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Northbound Toll Florida 589 reaches Exit 19, Junction Florida 54 east to Zephyrhills and west to New Port Richey. Photo taken 12/07/03.
A third toll plaza is located near Milepost 25, after the Florida 54 interchange and prior to Exit 27, Junction Florida 52. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 27, Junction Florida 52, east to San Antonio (Junction Interstate 75) and Dade City (Junction U.S. 98-301) and west to Bayonet Point (Junction U.S. 19). Photo taken 12/07/03.
Florida 52 covers 33.403 miles as it crosses Pasco County between Bayonet Point and Dade City. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Northbound Toll Florida 589 reaches Exit 27, Junction Florida 52 east to San Antonio and Dade City and west to Bayonet Point. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Ten miles north, Florida 589 approaches its next exit, Exit 37, Junction Pasco County Route 578, County Line Road west to Spring Hill. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Northbound Toll Florida 589/Suncoast Parkway reaches Exit 37, Junction Pasco County Route 578. Florida 589 departs from Pasco County and enters Hernando County. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Southbound Florida 589
Traveling south on the Veterans Expressway, southbound Florida 589 approaches Exit 8, Wilsky Boulevard to Linebaugh Avenue. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Southbound Toll Florida 589 approaches Exit 8, Wilsky Boulevard. Use Wilsky Boulevard south to Linebaugh Avenue. Linebaugh Avenue is a major east-west corridor across North Tampa. Photo taken 12/07/03.
This mileage sign provides the distance to the Hillsborough County Route 576/Memorial Boulevard and Interstate 275 interchanges, but it omits Florida 580 (Hillsborough Avenue), Florida 60 (Courtney Campbell Causeway), and Florida 616. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The next exit along southbound is Exit 4, Junction Florida 580, Hillsborough Avenue. Use Florida 580 west to northern Pinellas County destinations such as Oldsmar, Clearwater, and Dunedin. Florida 580 does not cross any major bridges over Tampa Bay, as it skirts the northern edge of the bay (in much the same way that California 37 does in the San Francisco Bay Area in California). Photo taken 12/07/03.
Southbound Florida 589/Veterans Expressway reaches Exit 4, Florida 580, Hillsborough Avenue. Use Florida 580 east to North Tampa, including Busch Gardens Amusement Park. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The penultimate exit along southbound Florida 589 is Exit 3, Junction Hillsborough County Route 576, Memorial Highway westbound to Florida 580/Hillsborough Avenue and Hillsborough County Route 589/Sheldon Road. Photo taken 12/07/03.
The final exit along southbound Toll Florida 589 is Exit 2A, Junction Florida 60 west, Courtney Campbell Causeway to Pinellas County. Exit 1 does not exist, perhaps pending a future reconstruction of the connection between Florida 589 and Interstate 275. Photo taken 12/07/03.
Southbound Toll Florida 589/Veterans Expressway reaches its southern terminus when the route divides into Interstate 275/East Florida 60 (left three lanes) and West Florida 60 (right two lanes). Photo taken 12/07/03.
