Page Nine:  28 St S (Exit 21) and 31 St S (Exit 20)

The seventh segment of Interstate 275 has the highway turning in a southwesterly direction in order to eventually link up with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and US 19.  Constructed in 1980 from just east of 28 St S to Queensboro Av S, 28 St S and 31 St S feature partial interchanges.  28 St S features a northbound entrance and a southbound exit, while 31 St S features a southbound exit and a northbound entrance.

The 31 St S exit is constructed almost like if you were exiting onto another expressway, but in reality it isn’t.  There were plans for a Pinellas Expressway that would have begun at this location and would have run using what is now the Pinellas Trail (a walking and bicycle trail on the site of a former railroad right of way), but those plans were nixed due to local opposition.  Gibbs High School as well as Treasure Island (via Central Avenue) is reached at the 31 St S exit.

28 St S is a north-south side street.  Improvements were not made until well after Interstate 275 was built.  28 St S was converted from a two-lane to a four-lane street in the late 1980's.  To have traffic avoid this substandard street at the time Interstate 275 was built, signage was erected having southbound traffic headed for US 19 and the Sunshine Skyway exit at FL 595, 5 Av N (Exit 23B).

The highway was constructed south to Queensboro Av S, but no construction was without controversy.  For a while there was concern with the south St. Petersburg community over access to the gulf beaches from south St. Petersburg using either 15 Av S or 18 Av S.  It was eventually decided that 18 Av S would be the through street for access.

Southbound Interstate 275 at Exit 21

Advance signage for 28 St S taken on the ramp from Interstate 175 westbound to Interstate 275 southbound.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at 28 St S.  Unlike Exit 32 (4 St N), there is no "No Reentry Southbound" signage as 28 St S is a southbound exit/northbound entrance interchange.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at 28 St S

Interstate 275 as it crosses 28 St S.  This photo is looking southbound on 28 St S.

Northbound Interstate 275 at Exit 20

Advance signage for 31 St S as we cross 22 Av S.  As this exit is a left exit, all traffic must be in the left lane in order to exit here.

Treasure Island is reached by exiting at 31 St S and proceeding north to Central Avenue.  West on Central Avenue will then take you to Treasure Island.

Intermediate signage for 31 St S.  Again you must be in the left lane to exit.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at 31 St S.  While the sign on the right (Interstate 275 North) is fairly new, the sign on the left (31 St S) has been there from Day One when this segment was built in 1980.