Page Six:  Hillsborough Avenue/US 92 (Exit 47A/B Northbound and Exit 47 Southbound), Sligh Avenue (Exit 48) and Bird Street/Waters Avenue (Exit 49 Northbound)

Meandering its way through central Tampa is this section of Interstate 275 which was constructed in 1966 and 1967 featuring the next three exits on our northbound journey:  Hillsborough Avenue (US 92), Sligh Avenue and Bird Street.  This segment is six lanes, with three lanes for northbound and three lanes for southbound.

Hillsborough Avenue is a major east-west highway that carries US 92 as well as US 41 just east of the interchange with Interstate 275 for a short segment.  The Hillsborough Avenue interchange features a dual eastbound/westbound exit system for northbound Interstate 275 travelers while southbound Interstate 275 travelers have a single exit for both eastbound and westbound Hillsborough Avenue.

Sligh Avenue is a local side street that basically connects Nebraska Avenue (US 41) with Florida Avenue (Business US 41) and beyond.  The Lowry Park Zoo can be reached from this exit and proceeding west on Sligh Avenue past Florida Avenue.

Bird Street is another local side street like its counterpart at Sligh Avenue.  However, the Bird Street interchange is a partial entry and exit which means only southbound traffic may enter and northbound traffic may exit.  The Tampa Greyhound Track can be reached from the Bird Street exit.  Additionally, there is a connector road from the ramps at Bird Street providing access to Waters Avenue, a regional street that connects the Veterans Expressway with Nebraska Avenue.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exits 47A and 47B

Advance overhead signage for Hillsborough Avenue coming up in 1/2 mile.

Hillsborough Avenue is just around the corner.  Notice that this is modern signage consistent with all the other signage on Interstate 275 mounted on the original 1966 posts.

Advance overhead signage for Hillsborough Avenue eastbound and westbound as well as Sligh Avenue.  Notice that the Hillsborough Avenue eastbound exit comes first, then Hillsborough Avenue westbound.

Overhead signage for Hillsborough Avenue westbound.  Beware of the 25 mph loop ramp if you exit here.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 47

Advance signage for Hillsborough Avenue just around the corner.  Notice that the signage for Hillsborough Avenue is for US 92 to US 41 south; this is probably from the days when Interstate 75 terminated in Tampa at Interstate 4.

Overhead signage for Hillsborough Avenue.   Notice the signage for through traffic on Interstate 275 south to Tampa International Airport as well as St. Petersburg; it’s much better than the generic “Thru Traffic” signage.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 47

We are directly underneath the southbound lanes of Interstate 275 at Hillsborough Avenue.  Notice the architecture of how the overpass bridge piers were built in 1966.

Eastbound on Hanna Avenue (north of Hillsborough Avenue) as we go under Interstate 275.  Notice the 14' 11" vertical clearance marked on the overpass beam.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 48

Advance signage for Sligh Avenue coming up in 1/2 mile.

Overhead signage for Sligh Avenue and advance signage for Bird Street.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 48

Advance signage for Sligh Avenue coming up in one mile.

You can reach the Lowry Park Zoo by exiting at Sligh Avenue and heading west.

Overhead signage for Sligh Avenue and advance signage for Hillsborough Avenue.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 48

Looking eastbound on Sligh Avenue as we go under Interstate 275.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 49

New advance signage for Bird Street as well as Waters Avenue along with newly installed variable message signage.  The variable message signage is part of a new traffic management project on Interstate 275 in Tampa.  Now Waters Avenue is signed along with Bird Street (which I believe should have been, especially now that Waters Avenue has an interchange at the Veterans Expressway).

Overhead signage for Bird Street and advance signage for Busch Boulevard.  As mentioned previously this exit is a southbound entry and northbound exit and there is a connector road linking to Waters Avenue.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 49

Looking at westbound Bird Street as we go under Interstate 275.  The missing bridge railing is being replaced as part of a concrete repaving project.

On the connector road headed southbound as we approach Bird Street.

We are under Interstate 275 at Bird Street.  Notice how the architecture of the bridge piers has changed as this overpass was built in 1967.  The section of Interstate 275 built in 1966 was constructed to a point between Sligh Avenue and Broad Street; the 1967 section of Interstate 275 was built north of this point.