I-275 Widening from north of 38th Avenue N to north of 4th Street N 449109-1-52-01 & 444243-1-52-01

This project will widen I-275 and add two tolled express lanes in each direction from north of 38th Avenue N to south of Gandy Boulevard in Pinellas County. One additional tolled express lane, for a total of two in each direction of I-275 will be added from south of Gandy Boulevard to north of 4th Street N.

The project also includes interchange modifications at 38th Avenue N, 54th Avenue N., Gandy Boulevard, and Roosevelt Boulevard. Noise barriers will be constructed from north of 38th Avenue N to Gandy Boulevard.

Shared Use Path along SR 688 (Ulmerton Road): A 12-foot-wide shared use path will be constructed along the north side of SR 688 (Ulmerton Road) from Fountain Parkway N to west of I-275. The shared use path was formerly a separate project (444243-1-52-01) during design, but this work has been combined with the highway project and will be built under the same construction contract.

The roadway and shared use path improvements will tie into the completed Gateway Expressway and active Howard Frankland Bridge projects.

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DRIVER ALERT! >>> As of Monday morning, December 8, the speed limit has been lowered in two construction work zones: 

• I-275 from 38th Avenue N to 4th St. N
• Howard Frankland Bridge between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties

The new speed limit is 55 MPH in both work zones. The speed reduction will help ensure a consistent and clear speed for all drivers along the I-275 corridor throughout each project area. Please remember to slow down, stay alert, and drive safely through work zones.

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Southbound I-275 traffic shifted to new alignment

The traffic shift for the southbound I-275 lanes between Roosevelt Boulevard (Exit 30) and 38th Avenue N (Exit 25) was completed Tuesday morning, January 27, 2026. All lanes in this area (general use and the express lane) have been shifted toward the median.

Drivers should be extra alert to lane shifts in all lanes and the new merge location before Gandy Boulevard for traffic entering the left lane of the general use lanes from the southbound express lane. The lane shifts and new merge area will remain in place for the next phases of the I-275 widening project.

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Project Benefits

• The additional capacity will help reduce congestion along a critical evacuation route
• The express lane network will be extended south towards St. Petersburg, providing users improved connectivity to Tampa (with the Gateway Expressway, Howard Frankland Bridge and Tampa’s Westshore Interchange projects)
  • Express lanes provide drivers with an alternative and reliable travel option
  • Transit vehicles can use the express lanes, providing more reliable travel times for passengers
• Lane continuity improvements (traveling in one lane through the corridor) will enhance safety and traffic operations along the corridor
• Noise barriers (where approved for construction) will help lessen roadway noise
• The new shared use path will provide enhanced mobility and safety for pedestrians and cyclists along Ulmerton Road and will connect to the shared use path under construction as part of the Howard Frankland Bridge project, expanding non-motorized connectivity across Tampa Bay
• The improvements along the corridor will support economic vitality by improving connectivity for both people and goods

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A Governor DeSantis Moving Florida Forward Project 
The Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative came out of the 2023 Legislative Session and focuses on critical improvements to ensure that transportation infrastructure can meet the demands of current and future residents and visitors, including investments in major interstates and arterial roadways to ensure people and goods can move safely throughout the state. As part of the initiative, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) identified a selection of critical needs on state-owned roadways. Additionally, FDOT identified previously approved projects with broad community support that only lacked funding to begin construction. Due to Florida’s sound fiscal health, $4 billion from the General Revenue Surplus has been dedicated to the Moving Florida Forward Infrastructure Initiative to advance construction on these projects around the state that will address congestion, improve safety, ensure the resiliency of our transportation network, and enhance Florida’s supply chain and economic growth.

Moving Florida Forward website: https://www.fdot.gov/movingfloridaforward/landing