Page Six:  38 Av N (Exit 25) and 22 Av N (Exit 24)

As this page covers two exits, you may scroll through the entire page or you may use one of the links below to jump to a specific section on this page:

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 25

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 25

Perspective of Interstate 275 at 38 Av N

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 24

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 24

Perspective of Interstate 275 at 22 Av N

The fourth segment of Interstate 275 brought the highway from its temporary end at a point just south of 50 Av N to a point just south of 22 Av N, bringing interstate access to both 38 Av N and 22 Av N.  At the 38 Av N interchange (Exit 25) the median is wide enough to accommodate a partial interchange for an expressway but plans for this were nixed long before the interstate was built.

Both interchanges feature a full service entry and exit system.  Just north of 22 Av N there is a pedestrian overpass that enables students attending Norwood Secondary School (which was an elementary school but it is now an alternative high school for students from all over the Pinellas County School District who have had serious disciplinary problems) to safely cross the interstate.  A new alternative high school, Bayside High School (located on 49 St N across the street from the Pinellas County Criminal Justice Center), was opened in October 2004.  As of March 2006, proposed budget cuts in the Pinellas County School District may shutter Norwood Secondary School.

38 Av N takes motorists to the Bay Pines VA Medical Center as well as Madeira Beach for westbound and the Allendale Terrace and Shore Acres neighborhoods in St. Petersburg for eastbound.  On the other hand, 22 Av N takes motorists to Tyrone Square Mall for westbound and the distinctive Snell Isle neighborhood as well as Sunken Gardens for eastbound.

There is signage at the 22 Av N exit directing motorists to the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines.  That hospital can also be reached using 38 Av N as well, but if you are coming from the north 38 Av N is a shorter choice.  According to a Dr. Delay article in the St. Petersburg Times, the reason the VA Medical Center at Bay Pines could not be signed is that Federal guidelines call for up to two destinations on a guide sign and 38 Av N already was at the two destination limit.  The two destinations on 38 Av N are Madeira Beach and Redington Beach.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 25

Advance signage for 38 Av N as we go under 54 Av N.

Intermediate signage for 38 Av N.  Notice the dedicated exit only lane.  Here is a closeup view of the intermediate signage.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at 38 Av N.

Advance signage for the three principal downtown exits just south of the 38 Av N exit on Interstate 275 southbound.

Madeira Beach as well as the Redington Beaches can be reached here at Exit 25.  Simply go west on 38 Av N after exiting Interstate 275 until you reach Tyrone Boulevard; north on Tyrone Boulevard (which is also US Alternate 19) until you get to FL 666; west on FL 666 across Boca Ciega Bay to Gulf Boulevard (FL 699) and Madeira Beach or head north on FL 699 to the Redington Beaches.  Here is a closeup view of the sign.

One of the newly installed Interstate 275 shields erected not too long ago just before Exit 25.  Here is a nice closeup view of the Interstate 275 shield.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 25

Advance signage for 38 Av N as we cross 22 Av N.

Intermediate signage for 38 Av N.  Notice how the sign is mounted on the pedestrian overpass.  Here is another view from the on ramp from 22 Av N.

Madeira Beach as well as the Redington Beaches can be reached here at Exit 25.  Simply go west on 38 Av N after exiting Interstate 275 until you reach Tyrone Boulevard; north on Tyrone Boulevard (which is also US Alternate 19) until you get to FL 666; west on FL 666 across Boca Ciega Bay to Gulf Boulevard (FL 699) and Madeira Beach or head north on FL 699 to the Redington Beaches.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at 38 Av N.  Notice that the sign support as well as the 38 Av N sign itself has been there since this section of Interstate 275 opened in 1974.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at 38 Av N

Looking westbound on 38 Av N as we go under Interstate 275.  The control city for Interstate 275 southbound (Bradenton) is properly signed.

Interstate 275 as it crosses 50 Av N and Haines Road.  Haines Road is a diagonal road running from US 19 in Pinellas Park to the intersection of Martin Luther King St N and 34 Av N and at one time it used to be a state highway (FL 689); today Haines Road is under Pinellas County jurisdiction for the portion within the county and City of St. Petersburg jurisdiction for the portion within the city.  According to Robert Droz's US Highways site Haines Road and Martin Luther King St N from 34 Av N to 5 Av N was at one time temporary US 19 (relocated onto its current alignment) until the original Sunshine Skyway was built in 1954; US 19 was shifted onto its current alignment on 34 St N just after the Sunshine Skyway was opened.  Haines Road was aligned with 50 Av N as it is today when Interstate 275 was built in the early 1970's.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 24

Advance signage for 22 Av N just before we cross 38 Av N.  Notice the different font that was used for the sign itself.  The original signage used to be mounted on four heavy duty posts that were taller rather than a partial overhead sign.  Here is a closeup view of the advance signage.

The VA Medical Center and Sunken Gardens are among the destinations reached on 22 Av N.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 southbound at 22 Av N.  Notice how the sign is mounted on the pedestrian overpass structure rather than a dedicated sign structure.  Also notice that the sign is the original button copy signage that has been there since this section of Interstate 275 opened in 1974.  Although not pictured, the Norwood Secondary School is to the right of the pedestrian overpass.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 24

Advance signage for 22 Av N as we go under the eastbound ramp for Interstate 375.

More advance signage for 22 Av N.  Notice the dedicated lane for exit from the right as well as a recently installed Interstate 275 reassurance shield.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 northbound at 22 Av N.

The VA Medical Center and Sunken Gardens are among the destinations reached on 22 Av N.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at 22 Av N

Looking at southbound I-275 from the pedestrian overpass.

Looking at northbound I-275 from the pedestrian overpass.

Looking eastbound on 22 Av N as it goes under Interstate 275.