Page Two:  The Ulmerton Road (FL 688) and Martin Luther King Street North (Pinellas County Road 803) Interchange Complex (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 (Exit 31B) or M.L. King Street North (Exit 31A).  This interchange complex was a “dead end” for Interstate 275 until the early 1970’s when work was undertaken to extend Interstate 275 into St. Petersburg.

Ulmerton Road (known as SR 688), Exit 31B, takes travelers to the Carillon office complex as well as neighboring Feather Sound.  Further west SR 688 takes travelers to Largo and Indian Rocks Beach, ending at Gulf Boulevard (SR 699).  SR 688 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. (SR 686) for about a mile.

Martin Luther King Street North (formerly known as 9^th Street North), Exit 31A, 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^st Avenue South or Central Avenue.  Travelers continuing south can see Lake Maggiore and the Boyd Hill Nature Park.

Recent improvements to this interchange included the realignment of the southbound lanes of Interstate 275 to permit widening of the highway from four to eight lanes.  In addition, access from Ulmerton Road to southbound Interstate 275 and southbound M L King Street North 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.  In addition, signage was upgraded making the destinations easier to interpret.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 31

First advance signage for Exit 31 at the 4 St N Exit (Exit 32).

Second advance signage for Exit 31 just as we go under the 4 St N overpass.  Notice the dedicated exit only lane that has just formed.

Use Exit 31 via Ulmerton Road (FL 688) to access the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport as well as Indian Rocks Beach.

Final signage for Exit 31 just before crossing the Big Island Gap bridge.  This picture shows you the improvements that were made to this interchange not too long ago now that southbound Interstate 275 traffic proceeds in a straight ahead direction.  Contrast this back to the old days when the southbound lanes of Interstate 275 here were only two lanes and there used to be a right exit for Ulmerton Road (FL 688) and a left exit for Martin Luther King St N.

On the ramp at Exit 31 from Interstate 275 southbound.  As you can see from the recent improvements when you exit at Exit 31 you will first leave Interstate 275 southbound then you decide if you want to go west on Ulmerton Road (FL 688) or south on Martin Luther King St N.  As the sign indicates you can access the St. Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport from here simply by following Ulmerton Road west to FL 686 west (which is Roosevelt Blvd) and the airport will be on your right.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 31

Looking north on Interstate 275 as we go under the overpass that carries Martin Luther King St N.  Because of the composition of Exit 31 in relation to Interstate 275 northbound you may enter but you may not exit.

Looking north on Interstate 275 as we go under the on ramp from Ulmerton Road.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 31

Eastbound on Ulmerton Road approaching Interstate 275.  Since we are already in St. Petersburg the control city for Interstate 275 southbound has changed to Bradenton.

Signage on Ulmerton Road eastbound advising motorists that Martin Luther King St N southbound can be accessed by staying in the right lane on Ulmerton Road.

As we are at the eastern terminus of Ulmerton Road, the new improvements to Exit 31 now allow motorists to go either northbound to Tampa or southbound to Bradenton on Interstate 275.  Back in Exit 31's old heydays you could go only northbound on Interstate 275 from eastbound Ulmerton Road.

Another added advantage with the southbound ramp onto Interstate 275 from Ulmerton Road eastbound:  You can access Martin Luther King St N from here as well without enduring the rush hour hassle of Roosevelt Blvd.

Looking southbound on Martin Luther King St N as we cross Interstate 275.

Transitioning from eastbound Ulmerton Road to northbound Interstate 275 on the newly constructed ramp.  As you can see the ramp allows for a right hand merge onto Interstate 275 northbound rather than the old left hand merge of a long time ago.  (Does anyone remember the short left hand merge from Ulmerton Road onto Interstate 275 northbound?)

Just after we are headed westbound on Ulmerton Road, it's 10 miles to Largo and 12 miles to Indian Rocks Beach.

Looking south on Martin Luther King Street North just after Interstate 275.

Proceed Southbound on Interstate 275 to Page Three

Proceed Northbound on Interstate 275 to Page One