Page One:  Exit 39, SR 60 (Kennedy Blvd/Memorial Hwy) to Tampa International Airport, Clearwater and the Veterans Expressway

We will start with the virtual tour of Interstate 275 as we make progress from the Howard Frankland Bridge northward to Bearss Avenue (Exit 53)and the northern terminus of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75.  Along the way we’ll stop at each exit as we progress our way northbound.

You will notice that each picture link will open a new browser window.  Like the Interstate 275 St. Petersburg virtual tour, it has been formatted so that not a whole lot of bandwidth is consumed (this is ideal for our visitors viewing us on a dial-up connection).  To view a new picture simply close the browser window containing the picture.

When this segment of Interstate 275 was originally built in the early 1960’s as a westward extension of Interstate 4 across the Howard Frankland Bridge, the interstate highway was just four lanes with what appeared to be a diamond interchange on the Memorial Highway portion.  The Kennedy Blvd portion features a southbound entry and a northbound exit as it appears today.  For years after it was constructed it served its traffic needs until the opening of the new Tampa International Airport terminal in 1971.  The opening of Tampa International Airport plus increased traffic justified the reconfiguration of the exit at Memorial Highway a few years later as part of an Interstate 275 widening project that took place.  A flyover ramp from Interstate 275 northbound to FL 60 westbound was constructed in 1976 enabling non-stop access to Tampa International Airport from St. Petersburg that would benefit St. Petersburg residents.  In addition, access to Cypress Street was constructed.

When the improvements were completed, Interstate 275 was widened from 4 to 6 lanes north of Memorial Highway.  South of Memorial Highway Interstate 275 remained at 4 lanes until 1991 when the second span of the Howard Frankland Bridge was built expanding the highway’s capacity from 4 to 8 lanes.  Today a short 4 lane segment from Kennedy Blvd to Memorial Highway is what remains, creating bottlenecks during the morning and evening rush hour as Interstate 275 narrows.

Improvements are being planned to expand Interstate 275 from its 4 and 6 lanes to 8 lanes from Memorial Highway to the Ashley/Tampa Street complex next to downtown.  In addition, the FL 60 connection from Interstate 275 to the Veterans Expressway entrance is getting a major makeover with completion scheduled for 2010.  Tampa Bay Interstates (the Florida DOT site for Interstate construction in the Tampa Bay area) has more information on these improvements including graphics and photos; it’s worth a look!

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 39

This sign serves as a reminder of what to expect ahead as you approach Tampa on Interstate 275 north.  This was taken just after exiting the Howard Frankland Bridge.  The flashers will go off when congestion conditions are taking place.

Advance signage for Exit 39A and 39B.  Remain in the extreme right lane for Kennedy Boulevard or remain in the second right lane for Tampa International Airport.

More advance signage for Exit 39A and 39B just around the corner.

Use Exit 39B for access to Cypress Street and Exit 40B (Lois Avenue) for International Plaza, the upscale shopping mall located east of Tampa International Airport.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 39A, while Exit 39B is the next exit.  Again, if you are headed to Tampa International Airport definitely use Exit 39B.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 39B.

Mileage for FL 60 west (1/4 mile), Lois Avenue (1-1/2 mile) and Dale Mabry Highway (2-1/4 miles).

Another mileage for Lois Avenue (1-1/4 mile), Dale Mabry Highway (1-3/4 mile) and Armenia/Howard Avenues (2-3/4 miles).

The split on the ramp from Interstate 275 northbound to FL 60 westbound.  Cypress Street veers off to the left while you want to stay to the right for Tampa International Airport.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 39

Advance signage for the Veterans Expressway from Interstate 275 southbound.

Advance signage for Tampa Airport and Clearwater via SR 60 west from Interstate 275 southbound.  Notice that travelers must be in the right lane to exit; those poor souls that have to get to the airport who miss this exit face a drive across the Howard Frankland Bridge to St Petersburg to turn around at Exit 32, 4 St N (now there’s a meaning to next exit 7 miles).

The final opportunity to exit from Interstate 275 southbound in Tampa.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 39

Advance signage for Interstate 275 exiting Tampa Airport.

On the new ramp configuration for Exit 39B exiting Tampa International Airport (TIA) for southbound Interstate 275.  Previously this southbound on-ramp merged directly onto busy southbound Interstate 275 (where it is two lanes southbound at the ramp’s previous entry point).  Now the ramp has been reconstructed to blend in with traffic entering from nearby Cypress Street and eventual free flow onto Interstate 275 southbound with traffic entering from Kennedy Blvd., Cypress Street as well as TIA.  According to MyTBI.com this ramp (in my opinion) is the “icing of the cake” for more major improvements to come in the years ahead.

Coverage of Interstate 275 southbound as it crosses the Howard Frankland Bridge to St. Petersburg is presented in the Bridges section of Interstate275Florida.com.

Be sure to visit our Tampa International Airport subsection of Interstate275Florida.com.  You can do so simply by clicking on this link.

Proceed northbound on Interstate 275 to Page Two

Proceed north on FL 60 to Tampa International Airport

Proceed southbound on Interstate 275 across the Howard Frankland Bridge into St. Petersburg