|
|
|
|
04/05/07 |
        
|
Page Two: Exit 40A (Westshore Blvd), Exit 40B (Lois Avenue) and Exits 41A/41B (Dale Mabry Highway (US 92)) and Exit 41C (Himes Avenue) Continuing northbound on Interstate 275 through Tampa we pass through three different exits, Westshore Blvd., Lois Avenue and Dale Mabry Highway. When this stretch of Interstate 275 was constructed in 1962 originally as a westward extension of Interstate 4, it used to be a 4-lane highway featuring full service entrance and exit at the above three locations. Evidence of the segment being a 4-lane highway is apparent by looking at the overpass pile caps at Westshore Blvd. and Lois Avenue. In the mid-1970’s this segment was widened to 6 lanes as part of a widening and modernization project to enhance capacity during the morning and evening commute. In the mid- to late 1980’s the interchange at Westshore Blvd. was reduced from a full diamond to a half diamond to make room for capacity enhancements at Exit 39. Around 1995 a northbound entrance and southbound exit for Himes Avenue was constructed. Its primary purpose is to provide for expedited traffic flow for events taking place at Raymond James Stadium which was under construction at the time. Now that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are so popular with one Super Bowl victory to their credit; on any Buccaneers game day traffic gets congested not only on Interstate 275 but on Himes Avenue and Dale Mabry Highway leading towards the stadium. 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. The current 6 lane segment mentioned here is proposed to be expended to 8 lanes as part of the proposed improvements. 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! MOTORIST CONFUSION ALERT: Although you may see US 92 East and West on the signage for Dale Mabry Highway, Dale Mabry is actually a north-south highway from US 41 south of Land O' Lakes to the main gate of MacDill AFB and Dale Mabry assumes several route numbers along the way. The section of Dale Mabry Highway carrying US 92 (an east-west cross Florida highway from 4 St N and 5 Av N in downtown St. Petersburg to Daytona Beach that pretty much predates Interstate 4) runs from Hillsborough Avenue to Gandy Boulevard. Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 40A Advance mileage signage for Westshore Boulevard as well as FL 60 and Tampa International Airport. Advance signage for Westshore Blvd. just around the corner. Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Westshore Blvd. Notice the advance signage for FL 60 west (Exit 39) to Tampa Airport and Clearwater. Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 40A Looking northbound on Westshore Blvd. as we go under Interstate 275. Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 40B Lois Avenue is coming up in ½ mile. Taken while crossing Westshore Blvd. Lois Avenue is just around the corner. Notice the dedicated exit only lane. Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 northbound at Lois Avenue. Mileage signage for Lois Avenue as well as Dale Mabry Highway's two exits. Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 40B Mileage sign for Lois Avenue as well as Westshore Blvd. and FL 60. Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Lois Avenue. Notice the motorist advisory warning travelers that the upcoming Howard Frankland Bridge is straight ahead and to check gas gauges before proceeding further; that sign is a holdover from the days when the Howard Frankland was a single span 4-lane bridge and traffic tieups were common. Even today, you still do not want to run out of gas on the Howard Frankland Bridge! Interstate 275 Northbound at Exits 41A and 41B Advance signage for Dale Mabry Highway (US 92) as we cross Lois Avenue. Signage for southbound Dale Mabry Highway coming up in 2/10 mile. Final opportunity to exit onto Dale Mabry Highway northbound. Mileage signage for both Dale Mabry Highway exits as well as Armenia and Howard Avenues. Use Lois Avenue (Exit 40B) or Dale Mabry Highway northbound (Exit 41B) to reach Raymond James Stadium or Legends Field. Raymond James Stadium is the home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while Legends Field is the spring training home of the New York Yankees. Interstate 275 Southbound at Exits 41C, 41B and 41A Advance signage for Dale Mabry Highway (Exits 41A and 41B) and Himes Avenue (Exit 41C). Advance mileage signage for Himes Avenue and Dale Mabry Highway. Himes Avenue is the way to go if you are headed to a Tampa Bay Buccaneers game at Raymond James Stadium or a New York Yankees spring training game at Legends Field. This exit was constructed to better expedite traffic flow into Raymond James Stadium especially on game days. Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Himes Avenue. Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 onto northbound Dale Mabry Highway. Southbound Dale Mabry Highway is just around the corner in 2/10 mile. Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 onto southbound Dale Mabry Highway. Also notice the advance signage for Lois Avenue coming up in 1/2 mile. Use Exit 41A (Dale Mabry Highway southbound) for MacDill AFB or Exit 40B (Lois Avenue) for International Plaza, the upscale shopping mall located about a mile and a half north on Lois Avenue just after crossing Spruce Street. Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exits 41A and 41B Signage on northbound Dale Mabry Highway directing motorists to Ocala via Interstate 275 or Orlando via Interstate 4. A view of the overpass that carries Interstate 275 over Dale Mabry Highway. This overpass is expected to be replaced as a part of the upcoming Interstate 275 reconstruction and widening project. Signage on southbound Dale Mabry Highway directing motorists to St. Petersburg via southbound Interstate 275 or to Ocala via northbound Interstate 275 or Orlando via Interstate 4 at Exit 45B. You can also see the overpass carrying Interstate 275 in the background.
|
This site was last updated 04/01/07