If you think commuting on I-275 through Tampa is bad, you ain't seen nothing yet.
That's because the entire Interstate will be closed tonight on the Tampa side of the Howard Frankland Bridge from 11:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. It's to allow construction workers to remove an overhead sign that spans both sides of the highway. It's part of the reconstruction of I-275 that will be going on through 2016.
Here's the release from the state Department of Transportation:
ALL traffic is scheduled to be detoured off Interstate 275 in the West Shore area late Tuesday night into early Wednesday morning. The closure will mean detours for 4 major traffic movements as indicated in the copy below. The detours are needed for the removal of an overhead sign truss that spans all lanes of I-275, just west of Westshore Boulevard. While the listed time period indicates a six-hour window to do this work, the contractor intends to shorten the duration as much as possible to lessen the impact on the motoring public. If all goes as planned, this should result in traffic being able to use I-275 significantly before 5:30 a.m. Wednesday.
Here are the details:
- DETOUR for Northbound I-275: Use Exit 39A to eastbound SR 60 (Kennedy Blvd.). Go east on Kennedy to West Shore Boulevard, then north on West Shore to the northbound I-275 entrance ramp.
- DETOUR for Southbound I-275: Use Exit 40A to West Shore Boulevard. Go north to Cypress Street. Go west on Cypress. Turn left to enter southbound I-275 after crossing under SR 60 (Memorial).
- DETOUR for Eastbound SR 60 to Northbound I-275: Continue past I-275 “loop” entrance ramp onto eastbound Kennedy Boulevard. Go north on West Shore Boulevard to the northbound I-275 entrance ramp.
- DETOUR for Southbound I-275 to Westbound SR 60: Use Exit 40A to West Shore Boulevard. Go north on West Shore. Turn left onto Spruce Street and go west to the westbound SR 60 ramp next to Tampa International Airport.
