Northbound I-275 Exit Ramps to State Road 60 (completed November 2010)

Project Description

Financial Project Number: 412531-3
Project Limits: from east of the Howard Frankland Bridge to the westbound SR 60 Exit 39B ramp (towards Tampa International Airport)
Project Length: .8 miles
Estimated Construction Cost: $6.6 million
Contractor: Pepper Contracting Services, Inc.
Start Date: August 16, 2009
Completed: November 24, 2010

About this Project
The Florida Department of Transportation has completed a project to improve the northbound I-275 exit ramp system to both eastbound (Kennedy Boulevard) and westbound (Memorial Highway) State Road 60 (SR 60).

Exits 39A (Kennedy Blvd.) and 39B (Memorial Highway) have been combined into one exit point. The new exit ramp was lengthened and separated from the northbound lanes of I-275 further to the west. Once on the new ramp, drivers are now directed to the previous lanes going to either eastbound or westbound SR 60.

These improvements were designed to decrease the weaving (lane changes) of vehicles by providing more decision time for choosing a lane for the intended direction of travel. Additional signs were also added to assist drivers.

Improvement Highlights

Traffic exiting northbound I-275 to eastbound or westbound SR 60 now exits about 1,800 feet sooner (closer to the Howard Frankland Bridge), allowing for better traffic flow on northbound I-275.

Signs and sign structures for drivers were improved.
Traffic Flow
The construction phasing was designed so that all existing lanes of traffic were maintained on I-275 and the ramps during peak traffic hours.

Night Work
In order to maintain the construction schedule and to minimize the impact to the public, it was necessary for the contractor to also work at night. Lane closures were used during different phases of the project.

Lane Closure Hours were:
9 p.m. to 5 a.m.