Page Thirteen:  The Final Stretch to Interstate 75:

 US 19 South (Exit 5), US 41 (Exit 2) and the Interstate 75 southern terminus

As this page covers three exits, feel free to scroll through the entire page or click on one of the links below to jump to a specific section of this page:

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 5

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 5

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 2

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 2

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 2

Interstate 275 Southbound at Interstate 75

Interstate 275 Northbound at Interstate 75

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75 Northbound

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75 Southbound

Constructed in 1983 and 1984 this segment of Interstate 275 connects the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Interstate 75 which enables motorists to travel south to Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Naples and Ft. Lauderdale and Miami via the Alligator Alley.  In addition to the interchanges at US 19 south, US 41 and Interstate 75, Interstate 275 crosses Abel Road, Bayshore Road as well as the CSX railroad tracks as well as a bridge across Terra Ceia Bay. 

This important piece of the Interstate 275 puzzle plus the upgrade of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Interstate 275 segment in St. Petersburg from 54 Av S to south of Pinellas Point Drive South completes Interstate 275's 59 mile journey across two important bridges, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Howard Frankland Bridge, and through the metropolitan areas of St. Petersburg and Tampa.  Today motorists who wish to travel to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami from St. Petersburg and vice versa can do so on an interstate highway rather than deal with the traffic nightmares on US 41 or with unknown two-lane highways.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 5

Advance signage for Exit 5, US 19 south to Bradenton.  The toll plaza for northbound Interstate 275 traffic headed to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is to the left.

Exit 5 is coming up in 1/4 mile.  Notice the diagrammatic for Exit 5, as traffic headed south on US 19 must be in the right lane.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 5.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 5

Signage on US 19 north advising motorists that the last U-turn before being committed to pay the $1.00 toll for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is coming up in 500 feet.

This intersection on US 19 north is your final opportunity before Interstate 275 and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.  Didn't the sign in the previous picture tell you?

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 2

Advance signage for Exit 2, US 41 to Palmetto and Bradenton coming up in two miles.

Another advance sign for Exit 2 coming up in one mile.

You can reach Port Manatee as well as the Manatee Civic Center from Exit 2.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 2.  This is the last exit on Interstate 275 southbound before Interstate 75.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 2

Advance signage for Exit 2, US 41 to Palmetto and Bradenton coming up in 1/2 mile.  This is the first exit of Interstate 275 for northbound travelers.  Also notice the sign with blinkers to the right; the blinkers are activated if in the event of a closure of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

Motorists beware:  Just like Exit 16 on southbound Interstate 275, Exit 2 is your last opportunity to avoid being committed to paying the $1.00 toll for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge which is straight ahead on Interstate 275 north.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 2.  Proceeding straight ahead incurs a $1.00 toll obligation for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

St. Petersburg is another 15 miles to go, but we have to cross the Sunshine Skyway Bridge first!

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 2

Approaching Interstate 275 on US 41 northbound in 1/2 mile.

Looking north on US 41 as we go under Interstate 275.

Interstate 275 Southbound at the Southern Terminus with Interstate 75 (Exit 228)

First diagrammatic signage for Interstate 75 coming up in one mile.  Notice that traffic headed to Tampa must use the right lane while traffic headed to Naples must use the left lane.

Second diagrammatic signage for Interstate 75 coming up in 1/2 mile.  We're almost to the end of Interstate 275 here!

Final opportunity to decide which way you want to go on Interstate 75.  Notice how the signs are mounted on the overpass rather than a separate overhead sign structure.  With this in mind we have arrived at the southern terminus of Interstate 275!

Signage for Interstate 75's Exit 229, Manatee County Road 6 to Parrish.  This was taken on the flyover ramp from Interstate 275 southbound to Interstate 75 northbound.

Final opportunity to exit onto Exit 229.  You can continue on to Parrish using eastbound Manatee County Road 6 to US 301 or you can continue north on Interstate 75 to Tampa.  This was taken on northbound Interstate 75 as you exit Interstate 275 south.

Interstate 275 Northbound at the Southern Terminus with Interstate 75 (Exit 228)

Northbound on the flyover as we cross Interstate 75.  Notice the Exit 229 sign to the left.

Northbound as we go under a flyover for motorists transitioning from Interstate 275 south to Interstate 75 north.  Motorists intending to exit for Parrish at Exit 229 on Interstate 75 from southbound Interstate 275 use this flyover.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75 Northbound

Advance diagrammatic signage for Interstate 275 coming up in two miles.  Notice the sign with blinkers to the right; the blinkers are activated if in the event of a closure of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.  This was taken on Interstate 75 northbound as we go under the Mendoza Road overpass.

More signage for Interstate 275 coming up in one mile.  Traffic must be in the right lane to exit onto Interstate 275 north.

Port Manatee (via Exit 2, US 41) and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge are reached on Interstate 275 northbound.  If you are headed from Bradenton, Sarasota or points south and you are headed to Tampa International Airport Interstate 275 is your best bet.

Final opportunity for Interstate 275 northbound from Interstate 75.  Notice how the signs are mounted on the Erie Road overpass, but I think the font size could be a little larger for motorists to read and interpret.  After all, when you are cruising along at 70 mph you got only ten seconds or less to read and interpret any interstate highway signage.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75 Southbound

Interstate 275 northbound approaching in 1/4 mile on Interstate 75 southbound.  The dedicated lane that formed from the on ramp from Exit 229 (Moccasin Wallow Road) will be the exit lane for Interstate 275 north.

Final opportunity for Interstate 275 northbound from Interstate 75 southbound.  Notice that traffic headed south on Interstate 75 to Naples as well as Ft. Lauderdale and Miami via the Alligator Alley are directed to use the three lanes as indicated on the overhead signage, while the right lane veers off to the right for Interstate 275.