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Interstate 275 - Tampa Bay, Florida

Routing

Interstate 275 is the urban route through the Tampa-St. Petersburg metropolitan area, while Interstate 75 bypasses the downtown areas to the east.

  • State Road 93
  • Built: 1973-1983
  • Total Length: 60 miles
  • Major Cities Served: Tampa, St. Petersburg, Bradenton

History

The first sections of Interstate 275 were constructed with other designations:

  • Interstate 4 from St. Petersburg northeast to the Howard Frankland Bridge and then east to downtown Tampa - built between 1960 and 1964.
  • Interstate 4 and Interstate 75 through the downtown interchange - built in 1965.
  • Interstate 75 from downtown Tampa north to Pasco County - built between 1964-1967.

This numbering configuration lasted through the 1960s, and Interstate 4 was fully signed on today's Interstate 275 until May 14, 1971. On that date, Interstate 4 west of the downtown interchange was replaced by Interstate 75. This designation lasted for a few years, but Interstate 75 was in turn replaced by Interstate 275 on August 24, 1973. Interstate 75 was relocated to the Interstate 75E bypass route.

The remainder of the Interstate 275 route was completed in stages between 1978 and 1984. Interstate 275 was gradually extended south during this time period from downtown St. Petersburg, although progress was slowed somewhat by the Sunshine Skyway collapse. Nevertheless, the Interstate 275 freeway was open all the way south to the skyway by June 1985, and by 1987, the new Sunshine Skyway bridge carried the Interstate over Tampa Bay. A connection was also constructed at the south end of the Skyway to Interstate 75 in Manatee County in the early 1980s.

Bridges on Interstate 275

Since Interstate 275 crosses Tampa Bay twice, it has two major bridges along its route: the Howard Frankland Bridge between Tampa and St. Petersburg and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge between St. Petersburg and Palmetto. The Howard Frankland Bridge is a concrete bridge that was once designated as Interstate 4 and later as Interstate 75. It was built in August 1960 and expanded with new south/westbound lanes in August 1991. A subsequent reconstruction of the north/eastbound lanes was completed in 1993; today the bridge has six to eight lanes in width.

The other major bridge is even more famous: the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, which is a cable stay bridge that connects St. Petersburg with Palmetto. The original Sunshine Skyway was a two-lane steel girder bridge that was constructed between 1950 and 1954. It was opened to traffic in September 1954. A second span for southbound traffic was constructed in the late 1960s and opened in 1971. This second span had an unfortunate, short life. On May 9, 1980, the southbound span collapsed when the ship, the Summit Venture, crashed into a pillar during a period of low visibility. This tragedy cost 35 lives as a bus, a truck, and six cars fell into the bay. Only one person survived the fall. After the channel was cleared, a decision needed to be reached on whether to rebuild the southbound span or replace it with another, new bridge. To that end, a new cable stay bridge was built between June 1982 and 1987. The original structure was ultimately demolished in 1991.

NOTE: Some of the following pictures were taken prior to the installation of mileage-based exit numbers. We will return to this area to obtain more updated photos as time permits to replace impacted photos.

Interstate 275 Photos

Miscellaneous Interstate 275 Pictures
These Interstate 275 shields are found on Florida 60, which follows John F. Kennedy Boulevard through western Tampa. Photo taken 12/27/00.
These Interstate 275 and U.S. 19 shield assemblies are located on the service roads that connect the northern skyway rest area with the freeway/bridge. Photo taken 12/27/00.
Interstate 275 & U.S. 19 shield assembly posted along the northbound side frontage road at the north fishing area of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. The upcoming diamond interchange lies at the Hillsborough and Pinellas County line. Photo taken 01/01/06.
Interstate 275 and U.S. 19 shields at rest area located at Exit 2B. Photo taken 12/27/00.
View of Sunshine Skyway Bridge from north rest area parking lot looking south. Photo taken 12/27/00.
Signage for Interstate 275 and Florida 589 in Tampa. Photo taken 12/27/00.
At the end of Exit 40A ramp from southbound Interstate 275 to West Shore Boulevard are these trailblazer shields for Hillsborough County Route 587. Photo taken 12/27/00.
Miscellaneous Interstate 275 Pictures
Traveling south along the 31st Street South on-ramp to Interstate 275. A partial "Y" interchange with left-hand ramps connects the freeway with the north-south street. The interchange was envisioned as the south end of the unconstructed St. Petersburg-Clearwater Expressway. Photo taken 10/15/07.
A two lane ramp merges onto the left-hand side of Interstate 275 from the planned St. Petersburg-Clearwater Expressway. The freeway was planned in the 1970s as a 20.2-mile Interstate grade highway. Cancellation of the highway occurred on May 12, 1978 because the new Interstate was more than 10 miles in length. A federal rule instituted at that time indicated that any new Interstate consist of a "final link" in the Interstate system, rather than a new wholesale facility. Photo taken 10/15/07.
Departing Interstate 275 northbound via the Exit 20 off-ramp to 31st Street South. This ramp was intended to represent the northbound beginning of the St. Petersburg-Clearwater Expressway. Photo taken 03/25/07.
Ramps prematurely curve and end at 31st Street North just north of the Interstate 275 overpasses. Photo taken 03/25/07.

The end of Exit 21 at 31st Street North adjacent to Interstate 275. The partial "Y" interchange would have carried travelers northwest to the existing interchange between U.S. 19A and Florida 666 at Bay Pines. That junction is the only other infrastructure built in anticipation of the ill-fated St. Petersburg-Clearwater Expressway. Photo taken 03/25/07.

Page Updated July 26, 2008.