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04/05/07 |
               
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Interstate 175, also known as South Bay Drive Constructed in the late 1970’s and opened in 1979, Interstate 175 takes motorists to downtown St. Petersburg and to landmarks such as Tropicana Field (home of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays), The Mahaffey Theater (which also used to house The Bayfront Center Arena, which was demolished in 2004) and the University of South Florida’s St. Petersburg Campus. The highway is a little longer than its Interstate 375 counterpart and it stops just before 4th Street South. The speed limit is reduced initially to 50 mph for much of the route, with an eventual reduction to 30 mph at the end of the highway. Interstate 175 Eastbound Mileage sign for Martin Luther King St S (signed as 9 St S when Interstate 175 was opened), 8 St S and 6 St S on the ramp to Interstate 175 eastbound from Interstate 275 southbound. Same mileage sign as above, but Interstate 175 eastbound from Interstate 275 northbound. Notice the difference in the mileage to 6 St S being 3/4 mile while on the other eastbound ramp it is one mile. Signage explaining that Martin Luther King St S used to be 9 St S as well as the exit to Tropicana Field via 8 St S. I think when the signs are replaced as part of a concrete rehabilitation project all the signage on Interstate 175 that carries the 9 St S designation will be replaced with just the Martin Luther King St S designation. After all, it was decided a while ago by the City of St. Petersburg that the 9th Street/Martin Luther King Street duopoly would be replaced by just one designation, Martin Luther King Street. First signage eastbound for Martin Luther King St S (formerly 9 St S) and 8 St S along with a variable message sign mainly used for events taking place at Tropicana Field but used for other downtown St. Petersburg events as well. Looking eastbound on Interstate 175 at the exit for 8th Street South and Martin Luther King Street South (signed as 9th Street South). Motorists headed to Tropicana Field use this exit. Here is a closeup of the Martin Luther King St S/8 St S sign. Eastbound view of Interstate 175 from the pedestrian overpass Looking eastbound on Interstate 175 at the 6th Street South exit. Two well-known hospitals, Bayfront Medical Center and All Children’s Hospital, are reached at this exit. Here is a closeup view of the 6th Street South exit. Webmaster's Note: The sign in the middle that says FL 687/4th Street South should read FL 687 North/3rd Street South and 4th Street South as 4th Street South transitions from Florida DOT maintenance to City of St. Petersburg Engineering Department maintenance as it crosses 5th Avenue South. I drew a comparison in MS Paint to show you what I think the signs should look like from my perspective. Interstate 175 ends 1,000 feet from this sign. Taken just past the 6th Street South exit. Looking towards the end of Interstate 175 as it approaches 4th Street South. The sign is erroneous due to the fact that the Great Explorations Museum has moved to The Pier (they used to be on 4th Street South); from what I understand Great Explorations is supposed to be relocated into their permanent home at Sunken Gardens sometime in the future. Also notice the speed limit drop to 30 mph as traffic is deposited onto 5th Avenue South. Here is a photo of the same sign with the Great Explorations legend covered up after an inquiry to and action in a St. Petersburg Times “Dr. Delay” article had some updates made. Another view towards the end of Interstate 175 with the sign mentioned in the last paragraph above completely replaced. However, the sign should state that the Salvador Dali Museum is the second right turn as the museum is on 3rd Street South, not 4th Street South. The end of Interstate 175 at this traffic signal at 4th Street South. Interstate 175 Westbound The beginning of Interstate 175 westbound at 4th Street South. Notice that the initial speed limit is 40 mph but it picks up to 50 mph after passing Martin Luther King St S. First signage for Interstate 275 to Tampa or Bradenton at the pedestrian overpass on Interstate 175 westbound. Final signage for Interstate 275 to Tampa or Bradenton. As you notice once you enter Interstate 175 westbound you cannot exit until you are on Interstate 275. Here is a closeup view taken from the pedestrian overpass. Perspective of Interstate 175 from Downtown St. Petersburg Streets Directions to Interstate 175 westbound coming from the Tropicana Field parking lot An Interstate 175 trailblazer shield on 3 St S at 4 Av S. I believe this sign was erected since day one when Interstate 175 was opened and should be replaced. Interstate 175 as it crosses 6 St S looking north. Closeup of the "West I-175" trailblazer on 6 St S northbound. Notice on the bottom of the trailblazer a sign mounted on the bottom that says "To 275" Shouldn't there be an Interstate 275 shield there? Another view of 6 St S as we are directly underneath Interstate 175. A bird's-eye view of Interstate 175 looking east at Martin Luther King St S. Signage directing southbound Martin Luther King St S motorists onto Interstate 175 westbound providing a connection to Interstate 275. Notice the South Bay Drive designation on the top of the sign. I believe this sign was there from day one when Interstate 175 opened as it is showing its age. On the Martin Luther King St S overpass as we are crossing Interstate 175. Notice the two items that were etched into the railing: The top line that says 150171 is a Florida DOT bridge inventory number while the bottom line says 9 St S, which was the former name of Martin Luther King St S. Looking east on Interstate 175 from atop the Martin Luther King St S overpass. Notice the two metal strips that cross the street; this marks the centerline of Interstate 175 as we would be standing on top of a bridge support and it is called an expansion joint. If you are wondering why you go over so many of these metal strips everywhere on Interstate 275 that's what these metal strips are and I took this picture just to give you a close up of what an expansion joint looks like from the street. At the other side of the Martin Luther King St S overpass on Interstate 175 showing the year this overpass was built, 1978. Overheads on 5 Av S eastbound just before 8 St S. Notice the signage directing motorists onto 8 St S for Tropicana Field. At the beginning of the 8 St S overpass on Interstate 175 on the left side showing the year of construction, 1979. 8 St S had to be closed for about a year as tons of dirt had to be excavated for Interstate 175 to be built. Looking west on Interstate 175 at 8 St S. Looking north on 8 St S as we cross Interstate 175. At the beginning of the 8 St S overpass on Interstate 175 on the right side showing the 8 St S designation and the Florida DOT bridge number, 150170. Closeup of the signage for 6 St S and 4 St S mounted on the 8 St S overpass on Interstate 175. Use of overpasses as sign supports is a cost saving measure than building a dedicated sign bridge and is highly encouraged where it is possible. Here is a better closeup of the 6 St S and 4 St S signage. Interstate 175 as it crosses 16 St S. Looking through the pedestrian overpass crossing Interstate 175. You can see Tropicana Field in the distance. Looking east from the pedestrian overpass on Interstate 175.
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This site was last updated 03/24/07