Page Four:  Exit 44 (Ashley Drive/Tampa Street/Scott Street for Interstate 275 northbound), Exit 45A (Jefferson Street/Ashley Drive/Tampa Street and Doyle Carlton Drive for Interstate 275 southbound as well as Interstate 4 westbound) and Exit 45B (Interstate 4), also known as “Malfunction Junction”

Recently renovated in December 2006! 

For years this all too familiar interchange is synonymous with its rightfully earned nickname:  Traffic congestion and accidents.  For those living in the Tampa Bay area who have to travel through this interchange as part of the commute, Malfunction Junction is frequently mentioned in one way or another during the morning and afternoon traffic reports.

When the Interstate 275/Interstate 4 interchange was constructed in 1964 it completed a missing link in between sections of Interstate 4 constructed in 1962 and 1963, leaving a “stub” end for the northbound highway which would eventually become Interstate 75.  In 1966 and 1967 Interstate 75 was built from Bearss Avenue (Exit 53) southward to the stub end I believe existed south of Floribraska Avenue (Exit 46A).  Once Interstate 75 was built and routed across the Howard Frankland Bridge into St. Petersburg Interstate 4 had its western terminus truncated to where it is today.  In the early to mid-1970’s Interstate 75 was routed on a new alignment and the existing Interstate 75 became Interstate 275.

The Ashley Drive/Tampa Street/Scott Street interchange complex provides access to downtown Tampa; access to Scott Street is provided from northbound Interstate 275.  At one point there was some sort of a ramp merging system to enable motorists entering northbound Interstate 275 from Ashley Street (due to the short merge onto Interstate 275) but it was dismantled years ago.

There are two entrance ramps onto northbound Interstate 275 from Jefferson Street (Exit 45A):  One ramp enters northbound Interstate 275 in the left lane enabling motorists to remain on Interstate 275, while the other ramp enters Interstate 275 in the right lane providing access to eastbound Interstate 4.  The two entrance ramps help cut down on the weaving movements once on Interstate 275 northbound from Jefferson Street.

Over the years the average traffic volume on Interstate 275 at Malfunction Junction has increased so much that it was decided to make major improvements to this all too familiar interchange. Malfunction Junction has recently received a major makeover which includes new flyover ramps and badly needed widening as well as new and better signage.

With the new improvements made possible by the reconstruction of Malfunction Junction this is what motorists are used to now than in the past:

Exit 44:  This exit has been downgraded to a full service entrance and northbound exit only ramp.  Northbound Interstate 275 motorists can access Ashley Drive, Tampa Street or Scott Street at Exit 44, while motorists on Ashley Drive can access Interstate 275 northbound or southbound.  The movement from Interstate 275 south to Ashley Drive was assumed by Exit 45A as a part of the reconstruction.

Exit 45A:  This exit provides a northbound entrance to and a southbound exit from Interstate 275.  The two northbound entrances onto Interstate 275 from Jefferson Street still remain as these ramps help cut down on the weaving movements as described earlier.  The southbound exit to Jefferson Street remains and a new ramp constructed as part of the reconstruction enables motorists to exit at either Ashley Drive/Tampa Street or the new exit ramp at Doyle Carlton Drive.  The access to Kay Street from southbound Interstate 275 was permanently removed.

Exit 45B:  Most of the movements from Interstate 275 to Interstate 4 and vice versa remain in place while overpasses were either widened or replaced.  The movement from Interstate 275 south to Interstate 4 east was replaced with a new overpass structure which is taller and wider than the structure built in 1964 when the interchange was originally constructed.  Once on Interstate 4 entrance was made onto the left lane with the original flyover structure; the new flyover structure enables motorists headed eastbound on Interstate 4 from southbound Interstate 275 to enter Interstate 4 in the right lane.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 44

Advance signage for Ashley/Tampa/Scott Street and Interstate 4.  Notice the dedicated right lane exit for downtown Tampa.

Follow Ashley Drive or Tampa Street for the Tampa Convention Center or the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

Follow Scott Street for the St. Petersburg Times Forum, the Florida Aquarium or the Port of Tampa.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 44.  The "Downtown East/West" designation is an aid for motorists locating important downtown Tampa landmarks.

Signage for Ashley Drive, Tampa Street and Scott Street.  Ashley Drive and Tampa Street is reached to the right while Scott Street is straight ahead.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 44

A view of downtown Tampa looking south on Florida Avenue at Tyler Street.

Northbound on Ashley Drive as we go across the ramp for southbound Tampa Street to enter Interstate 275.

At the split for Interstate 275 from Ashley Drive.  The northbound ramp from Ashley Drive to Interstate 275 was recently reconstructed.

The split for Ashley Drive and Tampa Street as you exit Interstate 275.  Use Ashley Drive to reach the Tampa Museum of Art, the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and the University of Tampa (via westbound Kennedy Boulevard) or Tampa Street to reach the Florida Aquarium, the Port of Tampa Cruise Terminal, the St. Petersburg Times Forum, the Tampa Convention Center as well as Harbor Island.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 45A

Advance signage for the destinations reached on Ashley Drive through the Downtown West designation:  The Tampa Bay Convention Center and the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 southbound at Exit 45A.  Notice the dedicated right lane exit.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 southbound at Exit 45A - this time, from Interstate 4 as we are at the western terminus and Jefferson Street is an Interstate 275 exit rather than an Interstate 4 exit, which is why you see the Exit 45A signage.

Use the right lane for Ashley Drive and Downtown West destinations.  This is on the off ramp from Interstate 275 at Exit 45A.

Approaching the split on the off ramp for Exit 45A from Interstate 275 southbound.  Use the left or middle lane for Downtown East via Jefferson Street and use the right lane for Downtown West via Ashley Drive.

The split on the off ramp for Exit 45A from Interstate 275 southbound.  Use the left lanes for Downtown East via Jefferson Street or use the right lanes for Downtown West via Ashley Drive.

Remain in the left lane for Ashley Drive and Tampa Street or the right lane for Doyle Carlton Drive.

Approaching yet another split for Downtown West.  When this ramp is fully opened you will be able to use the left lane to access Ashley Drive or Tampa Street or the right lane to access Doyle Carlton Drive.  The access to Doyle Carlton Drive from Interstate 275 south is new and was constructed as part of the Interstate 275/Interstate 4 interchange reconstruction project.  It is around this area where the old Exit 44 ramp from southbound Interstate 275 used to be.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 45A

Looking north on Jefferson Street approaching northbound Interstate 275.  As mentioned earlier the entrance to Interstate 275 northbound from Jefferson Street features a two entrance ramp system, one for northbound Interstate 275 traffic and another for eastbound Interstate 4 traffic, in order to discourage weaving movements on Interstate 275 northbound due to the short distance between Jefferson Street and Interstate 4 eastbound.

Looking south on Tampa Street approaching Interstate 275 and downtown Tampa.  Notice that motorists have to be in the right lane before reaching the intersection with Kay Street which is just ahead.  The headquarters of the Tampa Police Department used to be located off to the right in this general area; it is now the home of the Stetson University College of Law's Tampa Campus.

Overhead on Scott Street for Interstate 275 north and Interstate 4 east.  Again you have to be in the correct lane for either Interstate 275 or Interstate 4 on Scott Street just like northbound Jefferson Street due to the two entrance ramp system on Interstate 275 north.

Two closeups of the overhead signage for Interstate 4 on Interstate 275, taken from Scott Street:  This closeup is the overhead signage for Interstate 4 eastbound to Orlando, while this other closeup is the overhead signage for Interstate 275 northbound to Ocala.

Two views of the overpass viaduct which carries Interstate 275 over downtown Tampa:  Southbound and Northbound.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 45B

Advance mileage sign for Interstate 4 eastbound coming up in two miles.

If you are headed to Ybor City or the Port of Tampa Interstate 4 is the place to be!  Follow Interstate 4 eastbound to Exit 1, 21st Street and follow the signs.

First set of overheads for Interstate 4, newer and easy to read.

A closeup view of the first set of overheads for Interstate 4.

Second and final set of newly installed overheads for Interstate 4.  Use the right lanes for Interstate 4 to Orlando or the left lanes on Interstate 275 to Interstate 75 and Ocala.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 45B

Interstate 4 eastbound is coming up in 1-1/2 miles.  This has been installed on new signage.

Interstate 4 eastbound is coming up in 1/2 mile.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Interstate 4.  Notice the dedicated exit only lanes not only for Interstate 4 but also for Jefferson Street (Exit 45A).  If you are headed to Tampa International Airport or St. Petersburg you will want to remain in the two left lanes.

On the new flyover from Interstate 275 southbound to Interstate 4 eastbound.  As you will notice it is a single lane but it features an emergency lane unlike its 1964 counterpart.

Looking eastbound on Interstate 4 from a good vantage point on the new flyover.

Perspective of Interstate 275 from Interstate 4

On the ramp from Interstate 275 northbound to Interstate 4 eastbound.  Already the first exit for Interstate 4 is advertised, Exit 1 to 21st Street and 22nd Street.

New signage recently installed on westbound Interstate 4 at Interstate 275.  Notice the elongated “275” numerals within the shield plus the destinations for Tampa International Airport (marked with the airplane symbol) and St. Petersburg, all easy to read.

More new signage installed on westbound Interstate 4 at Interstate 275.  The signage is easy to read as in the preceding picture.  This is advance signage for Interstate 275 as the western terminus of Interstate 4 is just around the corner.

New signage for Downtown East/West (Exit 45A) on the ramp from westbound Interstate 4 to southbound Interstate 275.

Signage for Interstate 4's first exit, FL 585, is coming up in one mile.  This was taken on the newly reconstructed flyover ramp from southbound Interstate 275 to eastbound Interstate 4.

A panoramic aerial view of Interstate 275 as it snakes its way through Tampa as well as the Interstate 4 interchange.  This photo was taken on a Southwest Airlines flight as we were climbing out over Tampa.