Exit 45B: Interstate 4 to Orlando and
Daytona Beach

For years this all too familiar interchange complex is synonymous with its rightfully earned nickname: Traffic congestion and accidents. For those living in the Tampa Bay region who have to travel through this interchange as part of the commute to and from work, 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 (which would not open well into the mid-1980's) and the existing Interstate 75 became Interstate 275. 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. As such, Malfunction Junction has received a major makeover which includes new flyover ramps and badly needed widening as well as new and better signage, which was completed in December 2006.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 45B

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 45B

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 45B

Interstate 4's Eastern Terminus in Daytona Beach
at Interstate 95's Exit 260B

Here's what Interstate 4 looks like at its eastern terminus with Interstate 95 in Daytona Beach, 132 miles east of Tampa. Instead of ending at Interstate 95, Interstate 4 sheds its interstate status and transitions to an at-grade highway as FL 400 (which, incidentally, is Interstate 4's official Florida DOT designation) from Interstate 95 east to US 1. FL 400 does not provide access to the beaches of the Atlantic Ocean; instead US 92 - Interstate 4's parallel counterpart for much of its length - provides access to the beaches via high level bridges. In addition, unlike the beaches of the Pinellas Suncoast you can drive on the beaches of Daytona Beach.