Page One:  Big Island Gap and FL 687, 4th Street North (Exit 32)

We will start with the virtual tour of Interstate 275 as we make progress from Big Island Gap south of the Howard Frankland Bridge southward through downtown St. Petersburg to the entrance of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.  Along the way we’ll stop at each exit as we progress our way southbound.

You will notice that each picture link will open a new browser window.  Unlike the previous version of the I-275 virtual tour, it has been formatted so that not a whole lot of bandwidth is consumed (this is ideal for our visitors viewing us on a dial-up connection).  To view a new picture simply close the browser window containing the picture.

Big Island Gap is actually a dredged causeway constructed along with the Howard Frankland Bridge in 1959.  At the southern end of Big Island Gap is the exit for 4 St N (FL 687), Exit 32.  4 St N takes travelers to downtown St. Petersburg, but it can get backed up during rush hour (and not to mention the series of traffic lights).

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 32

Newly installed signage designating the section of Interstate 275 through St. Petersburg as the St. Petersburg Parkway and William C Cramer Memorial Highway.

Advance signage for 4 St N coming up in one mile.

Second advance signage for 4 St N coming up in 1/2 mile.

Mileage sign for the three north beach exits:  Indian Rocks Beach, Indian Shores and Redington Beaches.  Mileages shown are the distances to their respective exits.

Mileage sign for the three south beach exits:  Madeira Beach, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach.  Like the north beach sign mentioned above the mileages shown are the distances to their respective exits on Interstate 275.

Be warned:  If you exit at 4 St N, there is no reentry onto southbound Interstate 275!  If you exit onto 4 St N by mistake and want to proceed south on Interstate 275, simply follow 4 St N to Gandy Blvd. and head west on Gandy Blvd. where you can rejoin Interstate 275 south.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at 4 St N and advance signage for Exit 31, FL 688/Ulmerton Road and Martin Luther King St N.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 32

Northbound on Interstate 275 as the 4 St N exit ramp crosses the highway.  This exit ramp was originally built in 1959 along with the Howard Frankland Bridge but it was reconstructed in 1995.

Right lane ends in 600 feet, taken from the entrance ramp from 4 St N.

Mileage sign for Tampa International Airport (7 miles), Tampa (11 miles) and Lakeland (45 miles).  The mileage to Lakeland is a holdover from the early days when this section of Interstate 275 was originally designated as Interstate 4.

Perspective of Big Island Gap at the 4 St N approach bridge to Interstate 275

The entryway approach on 4 St N crossing Big Island Gap northbound showing the year of construction, 1959.

Looking north on 4 St N crossing Big Island Gap.

Looking north between the two bridges of 4 St N crossing Big Island Gap.

 

Proceed southbound on Interstate 275 to Page Two

Proceed onto the Howard Frankland Bridge

Proceed northbound on Interstate 275 into Tampa