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Expect lane closures and TRAFFIC DELAYS through today on northbound I-275

4/26/2009 - Northbound I-275 from Himes Avenue to the Hillsborough River (new alignment, completed April 2010)

TAMPA -- Traffic may be slow at times today on northbound I-275 in Tampa from Himes Avenue to downtown Tampa as crews work to finish construction and open up a third lane between Howard Avenue and the Hillsborough River.

Traffic impacts on I-275 began at 9 p.m. Friday (April 24) and are expected to be finished this afternoon, or at least by 5:30 a.m. Monday (April 27). Here is what motorists can expect (with approximate times):

  • 8 p.m. Friday to 8 a.m. Saturday: The Dale Mabry Highway entrance ramp to northbound I-275 will be closed. Drivers should use Lois Avenue or Howard Avenue to enter northbound I-275.
    • UPDATE: Ramp reopened earlier than expected.

  • 9 p.m. Friday: 1 to 2 (of 3) lanes will close on northbound I-275 from Lois Avenue (Exit 40B) to Ashley Drive/Scott Street (Exit 44).
    • UPDATE: 2 lanes opened at 5:40 a.m. Saturday. A third lane opened early Sunday from Lois to east of Howard Avenue. The remaining stretch should have a third lane open Sunday afternoon or by early Monday morning.

  • 9 p.m. Friday: The Ashley Drive/Scott Street exit ramps (Exit 44) will alternately be closed until 5:30 a.m. Saturday. Traffic will be detoured to whichever of these two ramps is open at the time.
    • UPDATE: Ramp closures are completed for this weekend.

  • Early morning Saturday: Traffic will be shifted to the new I-275 northbound lanes. Only two lanes will be open until about 5:30 a.m. Monday. The Dale Mabry entrance ramp to northbound I-275 will also reopen early Saturday morning.
    • UPDATE: Traffic was switched to new alignment at 5:40 a.m. Saturday. Dale Mabry entrance ramp was reopened earlier than expected.

  • All weekend: Traffic is expected to be congested on northbound I-275 and likely on nearby local east-west roads such as Columbus Drive, Kennedy Boulevard, and Cypress Street. Motorists may want to use alternate routes, particularly to avoid northbound I-275 and its anticipated periodic traffic congestion. The closures and detours used over the weekend are needed to build new pavement at a higher level at each end of the project where traffic currently is driving.

By Monday morning, or possible today, traffic is expected to be flowing on the new alignment in three through-lanes throughout the corridor. However, motorists will not have additional planned lanes or full lane and shoulder widths until this fall as additional widening must be done from Willow Avenue to west of Exit 44 . Until that widening is completed, northbound I-275 on the eastern end of this project will have two 11-foot lanes and a 12-foot middle lane. Trucks will be instructed to use the full-width middle lane. In additional, the speed limit has been reduced to 45 miles-per-hour until construction is completed.

UPDATE: The Himes Avenue entrance ramp onto northbound I-275 opened to traffic today (April 26) at 1:15 p.m.

The most important news for motorists today is to plan at least a few extra minutes into your travel time and be alert to the new conditions on northbound I-275 approaching downtown.

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