Page Eight:  Fletcher Avenue (Exit 52), Bearss Avenue (Exit 53) and the northern terminus of Interstate 275 at the Hillsborough/Pasco county line

The northernmost segments of Interstate 275 from Fletcher Avenue northward were constructed in 1964 and 1967.  The segment from Bearss Avenue northward to today’s junction with Interstate 75 north was constructed in 1964 as a part of the original Interstate 75.  However, according to Justin Cozart’s bayciti.net website Interstate 75 terminated at Bearss Avenue until the highway was extended to meet with Interstate 4 in 1967.

(Footnote:  The photo showing Interstate 275’s temporary end at Bearss Avenue on bayciti.net was dated 1961; however, according to my personal knowledge of the area it had 1964 inscribed on the overpass railing going over US 41 and the railroad track north of Bearss Avenue.  Today due to recent widening of this overpass bridge the original railing was demolished and replaced with Jersey-barrier type railing with the year the improvements were made.)

Fletcher Avenue is a minor east-west road connecting Dale Mabry Highway with Interstate 75; the road name changes to Morris Bridge Road east of Interstate 75.  Fletcher Avenue provides University of South Florida (USF) students with another means to access the main Tampa campus rather than having to drive on congested Fowler Avenue.  Bearss Avenue is another minor east-west road connecting Dale Mabry Highway with Bruce B Downs Road; west of Dale Mabry Highway the road name changes from Bearss Avenue to Ehrlich Road providing access to the Veterans Expressway.

North of Bearss Avenue Interstate 275 makes its way northward to the junction with Interstate 75.  As mentioned earlier the section of Interstate 275 from Bearss Avenue to today's Interstate 75 was constructed in 1964 as part of the original Interstate 75. The Interstate 275/75 interchange (commonly referred to as "the apex") at the Hillsborough/Pasco county line was constructed around 1982 when Interstate 75 was extended further southward towards Naples and over the Alligator Alley to Ft. Lauderdale and Miami.  On the way north Interstate 275 goes under Livingston Avenue (no access); if you are driving south on Interstate 275 this is where the speed limit drops from 70 mph to 65 mph for a brief segment (the speed limit further drops to 55 mph just before you approach Bearss Avenue).  Interstate 275 goes from six to four lanes from north of Bearss Avenue to Interstate 75.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 52

Advance signage for Fletcher Avenue coming up in 3/4 mile.

You can reach the VA Hospital as well as the Moffitt Cancer Center by heading east on Fletcher Avenue.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 52.

One of the many variable message signs being tested.  This is on Interstate 275 northbound just after Fletcher Avenue.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 52

Advance signage for Fletcher Avenue coming up in one mile.  Note the signage for the University of South Florida.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 52.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 52

Fletcher Avenue looking eastbound as it goes under Interstate 275.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 53 

Advance signage for Bearss Avenue as we go over Fletcher Avenue.

Advance signage for Bearss Avenue just around the corner.  This advance signage shows you where the exit only lane is.

And another set of advance signage for Bearss Avenue.  Notice the advisory message that if you miss this exit you will have to drive 10 miles to the next exit, which is Interstate 75's Exit 275, FL 56.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 53.  You have been advised already of the 10 mile drive ahead in case you miss this exit.

Crossing US 41 and the railroad tracks on Interstate 275 northbound.  Notice the speed limit change from 55 mph to 70 mph.

Distance to Ocala and Gainesville via Interstate 75 on Interstate 275 northbound just north of Bearss Avenue.

Livingston Avenue overpass at Interstate 275.  This overpass was constructed in 1964 as a part of the original Interstate 75.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 53

Livingston Avenue overpass, this time from a southbound Interstate 275 view.  The speed limit drops from 70 mph to 65 mph just after you pass this overpass.

Advance signage for Bearss Avenue coming up in one mile.  Exit 53 is the first exit for southbound Interstate 275 motorists coming into Tampa.

Mileage sign for Fletcher Avenue, Fowler Avenue and Busch Boulevard as we approach Exit 53.

Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at Exit 53.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 53

Eastbound Bearss Avenue as it goes under Interstate 275.

Another view of eastbound Bearss Avenue at Interstate 275.  Notice the right turn lane for Interstate 275 south to St. Petersburg.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Interstate 75's Exit 274

Reassurance marker for Interstate 275 northbound.  The junction for Interstate 75 northbound is just ahead.

Going over Interstate 75 approaching the Interstate 275 northern terminus.  Here is another view headed northbound.

Approaching the end of Interstate 275 north at Interstate 75 north, taken at County Line Road at the Hillsborough-Pasco County line

The end of Interstate 275 north at Interstate 75 north.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Interstate 75's Exit 274

Advance signage for Interstate 275 just before the SR 56 exit on southbound Interstate 75.  This sign was probably put up to eliminate confusion between Interstate 275 and Exit 275, as the exit number and road are not the same.  On Interstate 75, Exit 275 is SR 56 while Exit 274 is Interstate 275 southbound.

First advance diagrammatical signage for Interstate 275 southbound from Interstate 75 southbound.  Notice the airplane symbol; this means that travelers headed to Tampa International Airport should use Interstate 275 south.

Signage advising motorists headed to the Port of Tampa to use Interstate 75 south.

Second advance diagrammatical signage for Interstate 275 southbound from Interstate 75 southbound.

Final signage for Interstate 275 southbound from Interstate 75 southbound.  Here is a new sign overhead which replaced the earlier signage as a result of a widening project.

Bearss Avenue is 6 miles ahead, while Tampa is another 15 miles and St. Petersburg is 34 miles away.  Another 34 miles to go to St. Petersburg but we have to go through downtown Tampa and the Howard Frankland Bridge first!

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75's Exit 274

Overpass carrying Interstate 275 northbound across Interstate 75.  This is looking north on Interstate 75.

Interstate 275 distance signage on Interstate 75

Lately the Florida DOT has updated its mileage signs on Interstate 75 southbound to reflect the distance to the junction of Interstate 275 (Exit 274) and carrying the “to St. Petersburg” designation.  St. Petersburg has struggled for years to get its name on Interstate 75’s mileage signs; before the upgrade the first indication of the distance to St. Petersburg was the mileage sign immediately south of the Florida Turnpike exit (Exit 325) that stated St. Petersburg is 86 miles.

You may ask yourself why Tampa and not St. Petersburg?  For one reason, Tampa is considered a mileage control point - called a control city - based on the recommendation of the Highway Subcommittee on Traffic Engineering and the Standing Committee on Highways of the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO); there are lots of cities across the country designated as control cities.  For another reason, St. Petersburg is not on Interstate 75; instead it is served by Interstate 275.  For many years efforts were made to have St. Petersburg designated as a control city for Interstate 75 beginning with the past owner of Sunken Gardens (you may remember all the billboards for Sunken Gardens lining Interstate 75).

Recently efforts were made to get St. Petersburg designated as a control city but the request was turned down by AASHTO after submission to that organization by the Florida DOT.  However, a compromise was apparently made allowing for signage for mileage to the junction of Interstate 275 and the designation for St. Petersburg.  Once you exit from Interstate 75 southbound onto Interstate 275 southbound it’s only another 34 miles to St. Petersburg.

Distance to Interstate 275 on Interstate 75 south, taken just south of the Florida Turnpike interchange.

Distance to Interstate 275 on Interstate 75 south, taken just south of Sumter County Road 470.

Distance to Interstate 275 on Interstate 75 south, taken just south of FL 48.

Distance to Interstate 275 on Interstate 75 south, taken just south of FL 50/US 98.

Distance to Interstate 275 on Interstate 75 south, taken just south of Pasco County Road 41.