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Project Details
Phase Completed
Limits I-275 from east of the Howard Frankland Bridge to east of Lois Avenue
Length 2.4 miles
City
County
Road
About

This project is complete and final accepted by FDOT as of November 9, 2020.

Construction is complete on the I-275 corridor to improve operations of the I-275 / SR 60 interchange and I-275 from east of the Howard Frankland Bridge to Lois Avenue. These improvements are designed to provide congestion relief by adding lanes to I-275.

Here are the major improvements:

  • Add a lane in both directions of I-275 between the exit ramps to SR 60 and the entrance ramps from SR 60. COMPLETED
  • Convert a merge-lane to a through-lane on northbound I-275 from the SR 60 entrance ramp. COMPLETED
  • Add an auxiliary lane on northbound I-275 from the SR 60 entrance ramp to Dale Mabry Highway exit ramp. COMPLETED
  • Add an auxiliary lane on northbound I-275 between West Shore Boulevard and Lois Avenue with a noise barrier. COMPLETED
  • Lengthen the entrance ramp from SR 60 onto southbound I-275. COMPLETED
  • Add a lane to the northbound I-275 exit ramp to SR 60. COMPLETED 9/26/2020

Latest progress! A new lane opened on northbound I-275 the morning of September 26, 2020, adding a lane to northbound I-275 Exit 39 to SR 60 / Kennedy Boulevard and lengthening the merge area on the approach to the flyover bridge onto westbound SR 60.

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Recent progress. A new lane opened on northbound I-275 the morning of August 10, 2020, eliminating the merge condition just past Exit 39 to SR 60 / Kennedy Boulevard. Drivers can now stay in the lane that also exits to SR 60 to continue towards downtown Tampa. More changes are coming soon to improve traffic flow on the Exit 39 ramp.

More progress!  New lanes opened on northbound I-275 the morning of August 6, 2020, eliminating the need for drivers to merge left when entering mainline I-275 from the right lane of the eastbound SR 60 “loop” entrance ramp. This widening work also provides four continuous lanes for northbound I-275 drivers from SR 60 heading towards downtown Tampa and adds auxiliary lanes to improve traffic flow for traffic entering from West Shore Boulevard and exiting to Lois Avenue and Dale Mabry Highway.

Earlier progress: A third lane opened on southbound I-275 on July 28, 2020, eliminating the need for drivers to merge in the SR 60 area heading towards the Howard Frankland Bridge. Final paving is scheduled to smooth out the rough spots, but the new lane should improve drive times on southbound I-275. 

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This project is a design-build project, which means that an overall concept of the design was put out to bid with many design requirements specified in a Request for Proposals. The successful contractor was chosen from a number of qualified firms bidding on the contract based on a design that met the requirements and is the most economical to construct. The contracting team that was selected is responsible for the final design (with its own or contracted licensed engineers) under the same contract time that includes the construction. This allows the contractor to begin working on specific items of work as portions of the design are completed and approved. Construction work began in June 2019.

View Factsheet
Contact Information
Media Contact
John McShaffrey, APR
813-975-6930
John.McShaffrey@dot.state.fl.us
Closures
  • There are no closures at this time.
Project Files
Project Images
Looking west at I-275  between Lois Avenue (bottom) and West Shore Boulevard (top). Northbound I-275 is on the left. (October 15, 2020 photo)
Looking west at I-275 towards West Shore Boulevard. Northbound I-275 is on the left. (October 15, 2020 photo)
Looking west at I-275  at West Shore Boulevard. Northbound I-275 is on the left. (October 15, 2020 photo)
Looking west at I-275  between West Shore Boulevard (bottom) and SR 60 (top). Northbound I-275 is on the left. (October 15, 2020 photo)
Looking west at I-275 between SR 60 and the Howard Frankland Bridge (top). Northbound I-275 is on the left. (October 15, 2020 photo)
Map of detour route for closure of northbound I-275 from SR 60 to West Shore Boulevard
A closer look where lanes have been added to allow traffic from the eastbound SR 60 "loop" ramp to enter northbound I-275 without having to merge into the through-traffic lanes. (August 17, 2020 photo)
Looking west over I-275 at the Lois Avenue interchange. New lanes have been added to the upper left in the photo for northbound I-275 traffic. (August 17, 2020 photo)
To the left in the photo, you can see the new lanes added to northbound I-275 between West Shore Blvd. and Lois Avenue. (August 17, 2020 photo)
Looking west over I-275 at the West Shore Blvd. interchange. To the left of the photo, you can see the additional lanes added to northbound I-275. (August 17, 2020 photo)
Looking west over I-275 at SR 60.  Additional lanes have been added to allow both lanes from the eastbound SR 60 "loop" ramp to enter onto northbound I-275 without having to merge into through-traffic.  (August 17, 2020 photo)
Looking west over I-275 at the Kennedy Boulevard /SR 60 entrance ramps onto southbound I-275. An additional lane was added in each direction to eliminate the merges in this area. (August 17, 2020 photo)
Looking west over I-275, just east of the Howard Frankland Bridge. The black lanes to the right have been repaved and the entrance ramp from SR 60 onto southbound I-275 has been lengthened. (August 17, 2020 photo)
Looking east over I-275, just east of the Howard Frankland Bridge. The black lanes to the left have been repaved and the entrance ramp from SR 60 onto southbound I-275 has been lengthened. (August 17, 2020 photo)
A new lane opened on August 7 just after the northbound I-275 Exit 39 ramp to SR 60 to eliminate the need to merge in this area. (August 7, 2020 photo)
A new northbound I-275 lane opened August 7 as shown here at the bridge to westbound SR 60 (August 7, 2020 photo)
New northbound I-275 lanes opened August 6 at the entrance ramp from eastbound SR 60 (August 7, 2020 photo)
The lanes to the right are new auxiliary lanes to help traffic flow onto northbound I-275 from West Shore Boulevard and exit to Lois Avenue (August 7, 2020 photo)
Traffic on northbound I-275 flows smoothly with the addition of new lanes (darker pavement to the right) east of SR 60.  (August 7, 2020 photo)
In the middle left, you can see two lanes of traffic entering from eastbound SR 60 now flow into separate lanes, with no need to merge. (August 7, 2020 photo)
In the middle left, you can see two lanes of traffic entering from eastbound SR 60 now flow into separate lanes, with no need to merge. (August 7, 2020 photo)
Traffic flowing well in additional lanes on northbound I-275 at West Shore Boulevard (August 6, 2020 photo at 12:50 p.m.)
Additional lanes were opened on northbound I-275 on August 6, 2020 - eliminating the need for drivers to merge entering from SR 60 and approaching the area between West Shore Blvd. and Lois Avenue.
New pavement was added to extend the through-lanes and eliminate the need for drivers to merge left. (July 29, 2020 photo)
Drivers are alerted to improvements ahead on July 28, 2020.
Map of detour route for closure of westbound SR 60 under I-275
Seawall work next to northbound I-275 coming off the Howard Frankland Bridge (July 2, 2020 photo)
Work between southbound I-275 and the eastbound SR 60 entrance ramp (July 2, 2020 photo)
Sod delivery for placement on the northbound I-275 slopes at SR 60 (July 2, 2020 photo)
Wall construction between the northbound I-275 travel lanes and the West Shore Blvd. entrance ramp (July 2, 2020 photo)
Guardrail installation along the northbound I-275 exit ramp to Lois Avenue (July 2, 2020 photo)
Guardrail installation along the northbound I-275 exit ramp to Lois Avenue (July 2, 2020 photo)
Detour for closure of eastbound SR 60 entrance ramp onto northbound I-275
Looking east at construction to widen each direction of I-275 on the causeway, just east of the Howard Frankland Bridge.  (May 14, 2020 photo)
Looking west at I-275 between Lois Avenue and West Shore Boulevard. Roadway widening is on the left side of the highway. (May 14, 2020 photo)
Looking west at the I-275 / West Shore Boulevard interchange. Bridge widening for northbound I-275 traffic is on the left side of the interstate. (May 14, 2020 photo)
Looking west on I-275 at SR 60. Towards the bottom left you can see bridge widening over SR 60 that will allow both lanes to enter northbound I-275 without the need to merge quickly (May 14, 2020 photo)
Looking west at I-275 towards the Howard Frankland Bridge. Northbound I-275 construction is towards the left. (May 14, 2020 photo)
Detour map for closure of southbound West Shore Boulevard at I-275
Detour map for closure of northbound -275 from SR 60 to Lois Avenue
Detour map for closure of northbound I-275 Exit 40B to Lois Ave.
Detour map for closure of northbound I-275 ramp to westbound SR 60
Detour map for closure of I-275 in both directions in the Westshore area
Detour map for closure of Northbound I-275 exit ramp to SR 60/Kennedy Blvd.
All beams have been installed for the widening of the northbound I-275 bridge over SR 60 (3/21/2020 photo)
Crews were busy in the early morning installing concrete beams at I-275 over SR 60 (3/21/2020 photo)
A beam is lowed into place by crane and guided by workers at I-275 over SR 60 (3/21/2020 photo)
A car on northbound I-275 passes by workers installing bridge beams over SR 60 (3/21/2020 photo)
Workers install a bridge beam at SR 60 next to northbound I-275 (3/21/2020 photo)
Workers guide a concrete beam into place where the northbound I-275 bridge is being widened over Sr 60 (3/21/2020 photo)
A crane lifts a concrete beam into place at SR 60 and I-275 (3/21/2020 photo)
A concrete beam is lifted by crane off a transport truck at SR 60 and I-275 (3/21/2020 photo)
Crews place a concrete beam over SR 60 where the northbound I-275 bridge is being widened (3/20/2020 photo)
Work on a pier for northbound I-275 bridge widening over SR 60
Workers prepare a pier for beams that will be set soon over SR 60 (3/16/20 photo)
Form work for a noise barrier wall along northbound I-275 (3/16/20 photo)
Workers place concrete between the West Shore Boulevard entrance ramp and the northbound I-275 lanes (3/16/20 photo)
Detour map for closure of northbound West Shore Blvd.
Detour map for full closure of SR 60 at I-275
Detour Map for Closure of I-275 in Westshore area
Widening work on northbound I-275 on the Tampa side of the Howard Frankland Bridge (2-18-20 photo)
A pier cap being is being formed at I-275 and West Shore Boulevard during the early morning on February 25, 2020.
A pier cap being is being formed at I-275 and West Shore Boulevard during the early morning on February 25, 2020.
Detour map for closure of northbound I-275 between SR 60 and Lois Avenue
Lowering a reinforcing steel cage into a drilled shaft prior to placing concrete in the shaft
Working on the seawall on the south side of I-275 east of the Howard Frankland Bridge
Workers install pipe in a trench box next to I-275
Workers tie steel for noise barrier wall
Workers tie steel for noise barrier wall
Workers prepare forms for noise barrier wall
Pile installation next to northbound I-275 at West Shore Boulevard
Detour map for closure of West Shore Blvd. ramps onto northbound I-275
Detour Map for around-the-clock closure of northbound West Shore Boulevard under I-275
Detour Map for closure of Northbound West Shore Boulevard under I-275
Detour Map for closure of West Shore Boulevard under I-275
Detour route for closure of eastbound SR 60 between Tampa International Airport and I-275
Demolition of interstate 275 bridge over Memorial Blvd.