Page Two

Page Two: The Ulmerton Road (FL 688) and Martin Luther King Street North (CR 803) Interchange Complex (Exit 31)

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Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 31

Located immediately southwest of the Big Island Gap, this interchange complex was constructed at the same time the Howard Frankland Bridge was built in 1959. It enables motorists to exit southbound or enter northbound at Ulmerton Road or Martin Luther King St N. This interchange complex was a “dead end” for Interstate 275 from the time the Howard Frankland Bridge opened in 1960 (which used to be Interstate 4 back then) until 1970 when work was undertaken to extend Interstate 275 into and through St. Petersburg, eventually linking up with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and beyond.

Ulmerton Road (known as FL 688) takes travelers to the Carillon Office Park as well as neighboring Feather Sound. Further west Ulmerton Road takes travelers to Largo and Indian Rocks Beach, ending at Gulf Boulevard (FL 699). Ulmerton Road is notorious for its rush hour backups both in the morning and in the afternoon, especially the section where it is multiplexed with Roosevelt Blvd. (FL 686) for about a mile.

Martin Luther King St N, named for the civil rights leader, takes travelers to downtown St. Petersburg by way of Gateway Mall (now a shopping plaza) and through the picturesque Allendale neighborhood. Downtown St. Petersburg can be reached via 1 Av S or Central Avenue. Travelers continuing south can see Lake Maggiore and the Boyd Hill Nature Park. Additionally, Martin Luther King St N is a good alternative route to Tropicana Field on Rays game days.

Martin Luther King St N is Pinellas County maintained from Exit 31 southward to the intersection of 94 Av N, which is why the street has the CR 803 designation. South of 94 Av N Martin Luther King St N becomes the maintenance responsibility of the City of St. Petersburg. Formerly known as 9 St N, Martin Luther King St N assumed its current name in 1989 initially on a dually named basis and in 2001, the 9 St N designation was dropped altogether.

When this interchange was constructed in 1959 (about the same time as the Howard Frankland Bridge) Exit 31 used to be two exits, Exit 31A being Ulmerton Road (exiting from the right lane) and Exit 31B being Martin Luther King St N (exiting from the left lane). The Interstate 275 southbound mainline lanes curved to the right and then to the left. Those entering Interstate 275 northbound from Ulmerton Road did so in the left lane of the northbound Interstate 275 mainline; the entrance ramp was lengthened in the 1970's with the widening of the bridge carrying Interstate 275's two northbound lanes over Big Island Gap.

With increased traffic over the years a much needed widening of Interstate 275 at Exit 31 was in order. The improvements made to this interchange in 2004 included the realignment of the southbound lanes of Interstate 275 in a straight ahead trajectory as well as demolition of the original 1959 overpasses to permit widening of the highway from four to eight lanes. In addition, access from Ulmerton Road to southbound Interstate 275 and southbound Martin Luther King St N was constructed. Motorists entering Interstate 275 north from Ulmerton Road now enter the interstate on the right hand side as opposed to the left hand side of the northbound lanes as was past practice. In addition, signage was upgraded making the destinations easier to interpret.

Today Exit 31 is nearly a full service interchange with the exception of northbound Interstate 275 accessing Ulmerton Road and Martin Luther King St N. Perhaps a ramp from northbound Interstate 275 to southbound Martin Luther King St N would be ideal, especially as a last minute exit on the St. Petersburg side before the Howard Frankland Bridge. Currently northbound Interstate 275 motorists who miss the Roosevelt Blvd. interchange (Exit 30) are committed to crossing the Howard Frankland Bridge into Tampa.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 31

	First advance signage at 4 St N (Exit 32) Martin Luther King St N and Ulmerton Road is just around the corner after you go under the 4 St N exit ramp and cross Big Island Gap.
	Second advance signage for Exit 31 This is just as you go under the 4 St N overpass. Notice the dedicated right lane exit that has just formed.
	Signage for St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport and Indian Rocks beach Both destinations are reached using Ulmerton Road. Also use Ulmerton Road to reach Largo as well as Clearwater (via the Bayside Bridge/49 St N), especially if you missed Exit 39 in Tampa. The bottom portion of the sign had a tourist information center legend on a blue background but the Florida DOT covered it over with a green panel as the St. Petersburg welcome center (which used to be on Ulmerton Road right after you exit southbound Interstate 275) no longer exists.
	Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 southbound at Exit 31 Use this ramp to reach both highways served by Exit 31. Contrast this back to the old days when southbound Interstate 275 was two lanes and you used to exit to the right for Ulmerton Road (Exit 31A) or to the left for Martin Luther King St N (Exit 31B), not to mention the curve to the right and the left.
	On the ramp at Exit 31 from Interstate 275 southbound From here you can decide to head west on Ulmerton Road (FL 688) or south on Martin Luther King St N to St. Petersburg. Back in the old heydays of Interstate 275 southbound at Exit 31, the highway ended just south of here and all traffic was defaulted onto Martin Luther King St N until 1971 when Interstate 275 was extended to Gandy Blvd.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 31

Overpass for southbound Martin Luther King St N

This is looking north on Interstate 275. As you can see the overpass goes over Interstate 275 completely rather than just its northbound lanes predecessor when it collected traffic from the left lane of southbound Interstate 275. Notice that you cannot exit Interstate 275 here but it would be nice if there was a ramp from here to southbound Martin Luther King St N as a "last chance" ramp before the Howard Frankland Bridge.

Overpass for eastbound Ulmerton Road

Again this is viewed from northbound Interstate 275. Contrast from the old overpass where traffic from eastbound Ulmerton Road crossed just the southbound lanes of Interstate 275 and defaulted into the left lane of northbound Interstate 275. Today Ulmerton Road eastbound crosses Interstate 275 in its entirety and traffic defaults into the right lane.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 31

	Eastbound on Ulmerton Road approaching Interstate 275 As we are already in St. Petersburg the next control city, Bradenton, is appropriate. Bradenton is reached on Interstate 275 southbound via the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Exit 5 (US 19 south, which runs into US 41 south).
	You can reach Martin Luther King St N from Ulmerton Road eastbound! No need to fight congested Roosevelt Blvd. traffic - this is ideal for those who work in the Carillon Office Park area and live nearby in the many apartments and condominiums of the Gandy area of St. Petersburg. In fact, you do not get on Interstate 275 period - it's an easy transition from Ulmerton Road to Martin Luther King St N.
	At the eastern terminus of Ulmerton Road Remain in the two left lanes for Interstate 275 north to Tampa or use the right lane for either southbound Martin Luther King St N or Interstate 275 south to downtown St. Petersburg.
	Having southbound Martin Luther King St N access has its advantages If you work in the Carillon Office Park area (such as Raymond James Financial) and live in the Gandy area of northeast St. Petersburg, you are home by now. No need to fight congested Roosevelt Blvd.!
	Southbound on Martin Luther King St N This is as we cross Interstate 275. The right lane is traffic coming from Ulmerton Road while the left lane is traffic coming from southbound Interstate 275.
	Transitioning from eastbound Ulmerton Road to northbound Interstate 275 As you can see, you enter northbound Interstate 275 on the right hand side rather than the dangerous left hand side. In the distance you can see the waters of Big Island Gap and the bridge that carries 4 St N over Big Island Gap.
	Distances to Largo and Indian Rocks Beach From Interstate 275 it's 10 miles to Largo and 12 miles to Indian Rocks Beach. Prepare for congestion ahead as you approach Feather Sound and traffic coming in from westbound Roosevelt Blvd.
	Southbound on Martin Luther King St N This is just after going across Interstate 275. Notice the 55 mph speed limit which is only for about a half a mile; at 116 Av N the speed limit drops to 45 mph. Keeping your eye on your speed is crucial to avoid an unpleasant surprise from the St. Petersburg Police Department as radar patrols are conducted from time to time.

Proceed Southbound on Interstate 275 to Page Three

Proceed Northbound on Interstate 275 to Page One

12/05/09