The northbound Howard Frankland Bridge opened in August 1960 as the main route as the original span of Interstate 4. Interstate 275's southbound span was completed in August 1991. Photo taken 07/30/06 & 11/26/07.
Passing over the navigation channel of Old Tampa Bay below the Howard Frankland Bridge of Interstate 275 north. Is it not uncommon to ride the brakes from the crest northward to junction U.S. 92 during the evening peak hours. Photo taken 03/09/06.
Useless congestion ahead sign that advises motorists of either the obvious or of something that cannot be avoided as there are no off-ramps between the bridge end and Exit 39A. Photo taken 07/30/06.
Interstate 275 departs the Howard Frankland Bridge for a long causeway leading into Tampa. The stretch of roadway between the bridge hump and Exit 39B is one of the most congested in all of Tampa Bay. Daily congestion occurs during the work week during both the morning and evening peak hours. Traffic slows due to the bottleneck created by the reduction in travel lanes from four to two due to the exit-only lanes of Exit 39A (Kennedy Boulevard east to Florida 60) and 39B (Florida 60 west to Florida 589 Toll). Photo taken 07/30/06.
Nearing the ramp departure of Exit 39A, Interstate 275 enters the city of Tampa, home to 327,220 people estimated as of April 2004. Tampa was established in 1855 and contains over 116 square miles of land. Exit 39A forms the eastbound beginning of Kennedy Boulevard, a main arterial route into downtown from western reaches of the city. Kennedy Boulevard connects Interstate 275 north with Florida 60 (Memorial Highway) at the West Shore Mall. Photo taken 03/26/06.
Exit 39A provides access to Cypress Street west of Florida 60 (Memorial Highway) as well. Cypress Street ends at a number of office complexes and Cypress Point Park along Old Tampa Bay. Photo taken 07/30/06.
Exit 39A departs Interstate 275 north via a partial "Y" interchange. Kennedy Boulevard begins as an unsigned branch of Florida 60, serving a handful of office buildings before merging with mainline Florida 60 at the Memorial Highway freeway end. The exit ramp provides an alternate route to Florida 60 west at the traffic light with Memorial Highway. Photo taken 07/30/06.
The first in a series of upcoming exits signs posted along Interstate 275 through Tampa resides at the ramp split with Exit 39A. Florida 60 follows the original Memorial Highway alignment from Kennedy Boulevard northwest to Spruce Street. The freeway resembles nothing of its predecessor. Photo taken 07/30/06.
Interstate 275 northbound squeezes into two lanes as the freeway reaches its second Tampa exit, Exit 39B, Junction Florida 60 west to Toll Florida 589 north. Florida 60 west follows Memorial Boulevard northwest to the Tampa International Airport, then meets Florida 589. Toll Florida 589 continues as a freeway north toward the northern suburbs of Tampa as well as Pasco and Hernando Counties. Florida 60 turns west otherwise along the Courtney Campbell Causeway to enter the city of Clearwater in Pinellas County. Photo taken 11/26/07.
A second upcoming exits sign resides within the directional-cloverleaf interchange of Exit 39B. The following two exits serve the main commercial shopping areas of Tampa, including International Plaza Mall and Walters Crossing. Photo taken 11/26/07.
Ramp split of Exit 39B to Cypress Street and Florida 60 (Memorial Highway) west. Cypress Street ventures east to Westshore Boulevard (Hillsborough County 587) and Lois Avenue north of Interstate 275 while Florida 60 immediately enters the interchange with George Bean Parkway to Tampa International Airport. Photo taken 07/30/06.
Two-digit style reassurance marker posted for Interstate 275 north as the freeway passes over Memorial Highway. Many of these narrow signs are being replaced with three-digit sized shields. Photo taken 01/02/06.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 40B, North Lois Avenue. There is no connection from northbound Interstate 275 to Hillsborough County 587, West Shore Boulevard, but that interchange is Exit 40A on southbound Interstate 275. Photo taken 05/27/05.
The next three exits along northbound are Exit 40B, North Lois Avenue; Exit 41A, Junction U.S. 92/Florida 600, Dale Mabry Highway westbound (southbound); and Exit 41B, Junction U.S. 92/Florida 600, Dale Mabry Highway eastbound (northbound). Both Interstate 275 and U.S. 92 are not traveling in their true directions through western Tampa: Interstate 275 is basically an east-west freeway from the Howard Frankland Bridge east to Interstate 4, while U.S. 92 takes Dale Mabry Highway, a north-south street, from Toll Florida 618/Leroy Selmon Crosstown Expressway north to Florida 580/Hillsborough Avenue. Photo taken 03/05/06.
A two-lane loop ramp merges onto Interstate 275 north from Florida 60 (Memorial Highway) east. Drivers entering the freeway quickly must merge to the left as Exit 40B (Lois Avenue) claims the right-hand lane. Photo taken 03/12/06.
Northbound Interstate 275 reaches Exit 40B, North Lois Avenue. Use North Lois Avenue southbound to reach Florida 60/Kennedy Boulevard and northbound to reach Florida 616/Spruce Street at International Plaza Mall. Photo taken 03/12/06.
The next interchange is Exits 41A-B, Junction U.S. 92/Dale Mabry Highway. According to Justin Cozart's former BayCiti.Net site, "Dale Mabry Highway was named for a pilot in World War I, who died in a dirigible crash in 1922. Dale Mabry was only 30 at the time, and became something of a local legend - pilots were much more important in those days. The road was laid out in 1924 to connect the two main airfields in Tampa, Drew Field (now Tampa International Airport) and MacDill Field. The road's importance was dramatically enhanced during World War II because of its location. In 1952 the highway was extended northward to U.S. 41 at the Pasco County Line. Today Dale Mabry Highway is locally known to have horrible traffic. It carries Florida state roads 573, 580, 597, and U.S. 92." (Reprinted with permission from J.Cozart.) Photo taken 01/02/06.
The six-ramp partial-cloverleaf interchange with U.S. 92 is generally extremely congested due to the close proximity of the ramps and the volume of traffic generated from Dale Mabry Highway. Photo taken 01/02/06.
U.S. 92 is a major east-west corridor that connects the Gulf Coast city of St. Petersburg with the Atlantic Coast city of Daytona Beach. In between U.S. 92 generally follows the Interstate 4 corridor, traveling from southwest to northeast through Tampa, Plant City, Lakeland, Kissimmee, Orlando, Sanford, and DeLand. Through Tampa, U.S. 92 follows Gandy Boulevard east to Dale Mabry Highway north to Hillsborough Avenue east. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Eastbound Interstate 275 reaches Exit 41A, Junction U.S. 92/Dale Mabry Highway south (west). Dale Mabry Highway travels south all the way to MacDill Air Force Base. Photo taken 03/05/06.
The following ramp, Exit 41B, connects eastbound Interstate 275 with Exit 41B, Junction U.S. 92/Dale Mabry Highway north (east). Dale Mabry Highway continues north as Florida 597 into northern Hillsborough County, then merges with U.S. 41/Florida 45 (Land O'Lakes Boulevard). Interests to Drew Park and Raymond James Stadium (home of the NFL Tampa Bay Buccaneers) should travel U.S. 92 through to junction Florida 580 (Hillsborough Avenue). Photo taken 01/02/06.
A half-diamond interchange adds traffic from Himes Avenue to Interstate 275 north, one half mile west of the Exit 42 off-ramp to Howard and Armenia Avenues. Widening of Interstate 275 is underway as of Fall 2007 to redesign the entire freeway with eight overall lanes and a wide grassy median. Photo taken 01/02/06.
Interstate 4 debuts along Interstate 275 signage on the upcoming exits overhead one quarter mile west of the split-diamond interchange with Armenia and Howard Avenues. Photo taken 03/18/06.
Eastbound Interstate 275 next reaches Exit 42, Armenia Avenue southbound and Howard Avenue northbound. This couplet of one-way streets connects Interstate 275 with the Hyde Park community of Tampa to the south and travels north toward Carrollwood, picking up Hillsborough County Route 587A along the way. The couplet combines into Armenia Avenue only north of Tampa Bay Boulevard. Photo taken 11/10/07.
Continuing east, Interstate 275 bee lines toward downtown and a crossing of the Hillsborough River. Exit 44 joins the freeway with Ashley Drive south and U.S. 41 Business (Tampa / Franklin Streets) at the next interchange. Photo taken 11/10/07.
Skyscrapers from downtown Tampa begin to come into view as Interstate 275 nears its first crossing of the Hillsborough River. Note the clearing of houses and trees along the eastbound side. The demolition represents the first stage in the overall Interstate 275 reconstruction project. Photos taken 03/05/06 & 11/10/07.
Interstate 275 northbound shield posted after the on-ramp from Howard Avenue. Photo taken 03/05/06.
Exit 44 nears its departure from Interstate 275 north to serve interests into downtown Tampa. A trumpet interchange ties into a network of collector/distributor roadways from the freeway viaduct as it parallels Scott Street. Meanwhile northbound travelers prepare to split with Interstate 4 east (Exit 45B) in 1.5 miles. There is no Exit 45A along Interstate 275 north otherwise. Photo taken 08/25/07.
Additional views of the Tampa skyline taken on the approach to the Hillsborough River crossing. Photos taken 03/18/06.
Ashley Drive stems south from Exit 44 to Florida 60 (Kennedy Boulevard) and Channelside Drive. Scott Street leads east along the viaduct and provides connections with U.S. 41 Business (Florida Avenue north / Tampa Avenue south). Interests to the St. Pete Times Forum (home of the NHL Tampa Bay Lightning), the Florida Aquarium, and Channelside-Garrison Seaport can use any of the through streets leading south from Scott Street. Photo taken 03/05/06.
Descending from the Interstate 275 bridge over the Hillsborough River on Exit 44. The exit splits into ramps for Ashley Drive south to the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center, the Universal of Tampa, and the Tampa Convention Center and U.S. 41 Business for the Tampa Theater, City Hall, and the rest of the central business district. Photo taken 11/08/06.
Looking south at the departing Ashley Drive from the Interstate 275 viaduct. Photos taken 03/18/06.
Many new variable message signs were installed in 2007 throughout the Tampa Bay Interstate system. VMS often are posted alongside auxiliary signs, such as this one touting Interstate 4's connections to YBor City (Exit 1) and the Port of Tampa (Exit 3). Photo taken 08/25/07
Interstate 275 shield assembly posted along the viaduct passing over U.S. 41 Business. U.S. 41 Business travels a one-way street couplet (Florida / Tampa Avenue) between its split with Florida 60 and Florida 574 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard). Photo taken 03/12/06.
Interstate 275 north expands to five overall lanes in anticipation of the split with Interstate 4 east (Exit 45B). A tri-level stack interchange facilitates the movements between the two freeways above Florida 45 (Nebraska Avenue). Photo taken 11/10/07.
Despite major improvements to the Interstate 275 freeway leading into the revamped Interstate 4 interchange, lane merges still occur, which still causes some confusion among drivers. The downtown on-ramp from Ashley Drive quickly joins and ends ahead of the split with Interstate 4's eastbound beginning. Photo taken 11/10/07.
Views of previous guide signs and construction of the Interstate 275 & 4 interchange project of 2002-06. Photos taken 05/27/05, 03/18/06 & 03/24/06.
Interstate 275 turns north with three lanes through north Tampa as Interstate 4 begins and ventures east through YBor City to Plant City, Lakeland, and Tampa. The busy interchange between the two highways was reconstructed between October 2002 and December 2006 at a cost of $81 million. Photo taken 08/25/07.
Before and after looks at the Interstate 4/275 stack interchange. Photos taken 12/23/03 & 11/26/07.
Centerline posted reassurance marker of Interstate 275 posted ahead of the Columbus Drive under crossing. Photo taken 11/10/07.
The section of Interstate 275 north of Interstate 4 was reconstructed in conjunction with the Exit 45B interchange project. Several of the signs and sign bridges were replaced as lanes were added to the freeway. Photo taken 12/23/03.
A second Interstate 275 shield is posted after the on-ramp from Interstate 4's west end. A half-diamond interchange with Floribraska Avenue (Exit 46A) adds additional traffic ahead. Photo taken 12/23/03.
This mileage sign replaces the one shown in the previous photo, but was replaced itself in 2007. Even though it is several hundred feet further north than the previous sign, the mileage amounts for the next three exits, beginning with Florida 574 (Exit 46A), remained the same. Photo taken 05/28/05.
Installation of variable message signs along Interstate 275 replaced the upcoming exits sign pictured above. A new half-mile overhead now directs motorists to Florida 574 (Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), an east-west through route connecting the West Tampa and College Hill communities. Photo taken 11/10/07.
Florida 574 follows Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (former Buffalo Avenue) from U.S. 92/Dale Mabry Highway east to Orient Park, Mango, Seffner, Dover, and Plant City. This state road used to follow the alignment of Hillsborough County Route 574, which follows Broadway and East 7th Avenue into the vicinity of downtown Tampa. Photo taken 11/10/07.
The right lane of northbound Interstate 275 becomes exit only for Exit 46B, Junction Florida 574, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard (Buffalo Avenue). Use Florida 574 west to Hillsborough Community College, Raymond James Stadium, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Practice Facility, and Legends Field. Legends Field is the spring training location for Major League Baseball's American League New York Yankees. Note the use of "Thru Traffic" on the pull-through sign (it should say Interstate 275 north to Interstate 75, Ocala). Photo taken 05/28/05.
The pull-through panel was removed and both Exit 46B and 47A?B (junction U.S. 92) overheads were replaced by 2007. Photo taken 11/10/07.
Interstate 275 intersects U.S. 92 a second time at Exit 47. This time, Interstate 275 is traveling north-south, and U.S. 92 is traveling east-west, unlike the previous meeting at Exit 41 (Dale Mabry Highway). U.S. 92 travels along Hillsborough Avenue, thus avoiding downtown Tampa by staying well to the north. U.S. 92 meets U.S. 41 (Florida 45/Nebraska Avenue) just a few blocks to the east and Business U.S. 41 (Florida Avenue) a few blocks to the west. Photo taken 07/13/07.
Drivers pass over the Osborne Road under crossing on the approach to the Exit 47A/B partial-cloverleaf interchange. U.S. 92 (Hillsborough Avenue) combines with U.S. 41 at junction Florida 45 (Nebraska Avenue) for a 2.25-mile overlap to 40th Street North. Photo taken 12/23/03.
Exit 47A leaves Interstate 275 north for U.S. 92 (Hillsborough Avenue) east to U.S. 41 and Florida 45 (Nebraska Avenue). Hillsborough Avenue carries U.S. 92 east to Harney and junction Interstate 4 at Eureka Springs. U.S. 92 is also secret Florida 600, which follows U.S. 92 east toward Lakeland and Kissimmee. Photo taken 07/13/07.
Northbound Interstate 275 reaches Exit 47B, Junction U.S. 92 (Hillsborough Avenue) west. U.S. 92 continues west along Hillsborough Avenue, then turns south at a six-directional cloverleaf with Dale Mabry Highway (Florida 580). Photo taken 12/23/03.
Sign replacement of the Exit 47B overhead for U.S. 92 (Hillsborough Avenue) west. Hillsborough Avenue is part of a longer route joining Tampa with Oldsmar and Dunedin in Pinellas County via Florida 580. Photo taken 07/13/07.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 48, Sligh Avenue. Sligh Avenue serves the Lowry Park and Sulphur Springs communities, including the Lowry Park Zoo. Photo taken 05/28/05.
Signs were removed/replaced at Exit 48 (Sligh Avenue) by 2007. Sligh Avenue straddles the north end of Seminole Heights to the east and spans the Hillsborough River on its westward journey to Carrollwood. Photo taken 07/13/07.
This upcoming exits sign omits Exit 49 in favor of Exits 50, 51, and 52, all interchanges joining Interstate 275 with arterial-based state roads. Photo taken 07/13/07.
Bird Street crosses paths with Interstate 275 at a half-diamond interchange near Tampa Dog Track and Sulphur Springs Park. Frontage ramps lead north to adjacent Waters Avenue, an east-west arterial between Rowlett Park and Carrollwood. Photo taken 07/13/07.
Connecting Business U.S. 41/Florida 685 (N. Florida Avenue) and U.S. 41/Florida 45 (N. Nebraska Avenue), the Bird Street off-ramp departs Interstate 275 north at Exit 49. Although not mentioned here, there is no direct access back onto northbound Interstate 275 from the Bird Street exit. To return to the freeway, one must use either N. Florida Avenue or N. Nebraska Avenue north to Florida 580, Busch Boulevard. Use Bird Street east to enter the Sulphur Springs community of Tampa. Photo taken 5/28/05.
Sign replacements on the Exit 49 sign bridge of Interstate 275 north include Waters Avenue. Waters Avenue becomes unsigned Hillsborough County 587A west of U.S. 41 Business and Hillsborough County 584 west of Florida 580 (Dale Mabry Highway), linking north Tampa with Town N' Country in the process. Photo taken 07/13/07.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 50, Junction Florida 580, Busch Boulevard. The Busch family is very prominent in Tampa, and it owns Busch Gardens, an amusement park located east of Interstate 275 via Florida 580/Busch Boulevard. The first theme park opened by Anheuser-Busch Companies was Busch Gardens; today the company owns several other theme parks, including Sea World (however with the 2008 purchase of the brewery by InBev, ownership of the theme parks will change hands). Busch Gardens is located east of Interstate 275, between Hillsborough County Route 581 (30th Street/Bruce B. Downs Boulevard) and Hillsborough County Route 585A (Malcolm McKinley Drive) on Florida 580/Busch Boulevard. Photo taken 11/26/07.
Florida 580 is a fairly long route that follows an odd assortment of streets in Tampa. It begins in Dunedin on the Gulf Coast (at Junction Alternate U.S. 19/Florida 595) and ends in Temple Terrace (at Junction U.S. 301/Fort King Highway near Interstate 75). Through Tampa, Florida 580 enters the city via Hillsborough Avenue, then turns north on Dale Mabry Highway, and then turns east on Busch Boulevard. Once in Temple Terrace, Florida 580 becomes unsigned Hillsborough County 580 along Bullard Parkway (east of Hillsborough County Route 583/56th Street) and Temple Terrace Highway. The newer bypass is signed, but the mileage uses the older one through downtown. Here, northbound Interstate 275 reaches Exit 50, Junction Florida 580. This interchange is a folded diamond, and all exiting traffic uses this loop ramp. Photo taken 11/26/07.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 51, Junction Florida 582, Fowler Avenue. Florida 582 begins at Business U.S. 41/Florida 685 (North Florida Avenue) to the west, then travels east along Fowler Avenue east past the University of South Florida and Temple Terrace before ending at U.S. 301 (Fort King Highway) in Thonotosassa. Photo taken 07/13/07.
Northbound Interstate 275 reaches Exit 51, Junction Florida 582/Fowler Avenue. Fowler Avenue eastbound serves the University of South Florida, which had an enrollment of 42,950 as of the Fall 2004 semester. As a result, the University of South Florida has the largest enrollment of any such school in the Southeastern United States that year and ranks in the top ten each year otherwise. Photo taken 12/23/03.
Sign replacement at the Exit 51 diamond interchange with Florida 582 (Fowler Avenue). Interests to the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) should follow Fowler Avenue east to USF near 50th Street North. Photo taken 07/13/07.
At the bottom of the off ramp from northbound Interstate 275 to Florida 582 are these signs. The two left lanes head west toward Forest Hills and the right lane heads east toward the University of South Florida, as well as University Mall. Photo taken 12/23/03.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 52, Junction Florida 579 and Hillsborough County Route 582A, Fletcher Avenue. Florida 579 is the section of Fletcher Avenue between Business U.S. 41/Florida 685 (North Florida Avenue) and U.S. 41/Florida 45 (North Nebraska Avenue); Hillsborough County Route 582A continues east along Fletcher Avenue from Nebraska Avenue east to Interstate 75, where it changes into northbound Hillsborough County Route 579/Morris Bridge Road. Morris Bridge Road continues north, connecting to Florida 54 west of Zephyrhills. Photo taken 07/13/07.
Northbound Interstate 275 reaches Exit 52, Junction Florida 579/Hillsborough County Route 582A, Fletcher Avenue. This is a diamond interchange. Use Fletcher Avenue east for James Haley Veterans Hospital and the Moffitt Cancel Center at USF. Photo taken 12/23/03.
The next exit along northbound is Exit 53, Junction Florida 678, Bearss Avenue. Florida 678 is only state maintained between U.S. 41 (Florida 45/Nebraska Avenue) and Skipper Road (all east of Interstate 275). The rest of the route is unnumbered. Photo taken 05/28/05.
Bearss Avenue connects Ehrlich Road with Hillsborough County Route 581/Bruce B. Downs Boulevard near Tampa Palms. Photo taken 07/13/07.
Northbound Interstate 275 reaches Exit 53, Junction Florida 678, Bearss Avenue. This is the final exit along northbound Interstate 275 before the Interstate 75 merge and is the final chance to connect to northbound U.S. 41. Interstate 275 turns northeast from here, with no exits at U.S. 41 or at Livingston Avenue. There have been some discussions about adding a new interchange northeast of this interchange, but none are constructed at this time. Interstate 275 narrows from six to four lanes for the remainder of its journey, which includes 7.3 miles of relatively undeveloped areas and no exits. Photo taken 07/13/07.
Exit 53 consists of a diamond interchange with Florida 678 (Bearss Avenue). Bearss Avenue leads west to Lake Magdalene and east to Hillsborough County 581 (Bruce B. Downs Boulevard), the only connection to New Tampa from the southwest. Photo taken 07/13/07.
Mileage sign listing the distances to junction Florida 54, the first exit after the merge with Interstate 75, and the Interstate 75 control points of Ocala and Gainesville. Motorist aid call boxes begin north of Exit 53 and continue along Interstate 75. Photo taken 05/28/05.
Interstate 275 carries just four lanes with no exits as it passes by the Cypress Creek Preserve west of New Tampa. A typical summertime thunderstorm looms in the distance of this scene. Photo taken 07/13/07.
County Line Road passes over Interstate 275 at the border between Hillsborough and Pasco Counties. Photo taken 11/26/07
Northbound Interstate 275 reaches its northern terminus at a partial "Y" interchange with Interstate 75 east of Lutz. The Interstate 75 mainline is visible to the left of the two end signs. Photo taken 11/26/07.
The previous set of end Interstate 275 posted at the merge with Interstate 75. Interstate 75 quickly meets Florida 54 amid an area of growing suburban development through southern Pasco County. Photo taken 05/28/05.
