Monday, December 31, 2007

Happy New Year from Interstate275Florida.com!

First I want to wish all of our Interstate275Florida.com viewers a prosperous new year 2008!

2007 brought about some much needed maintenance work on Interstate 275, especially in the St. Petersburg area. We have seen several concrete pavement rehabilitation projects in various locations along Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg. More notably, work is almost done on the concrete rehabilitation project from Gandy Blvd. (Exit 28) to north of 54 Av N (Exit 26) at the 62 Av N overpass. Further south, there is still work going on at Interstate 175 as well as Interstate 275 south of Interstate 175 (Exit 22) to north of 22 Av S (Exit 19).

Meanwhile, over on the Tampa side, 2007 saw the start of work that will eventually transform Interstate 275 into a wider highway starting with the section from Himes Avenue (Exit 41C) towards the Hillsborough River and Ashley/Tampa/Scott Streets (Exit 44). Additionally, the Tampa International Airport interchanges began to start taking its new shape slowly with the recent opening of the new flyover not too long ago as I mentioned in a previous post. We also can't forget the installation of several new electronic variable message signs that inform us of distance and time to a given exit as well as informing us of any congestion.

As you and I know already, construction on Interstate 275 whether it's concrete rehabilitation or an all new makeover has its inconveniences: Barricades, barrels, reduced speed limits, Florida Highway Patrol presence, and construction equipment everywhere. But in the end, we will have a newer yet safer Interstate 275 not only for us Tampa Bay area residents but for everyone else as well.

As always, updates to the Interstate275Florida.com site will be made as construction progresses and new permanent signage is posted. In the meantime, have a safe happy new year!

Friday, December 21, 2007

A new way to get to Interstate 275 from Tampa International Airport

On Saturday, 22 December 2007 (just in time for Christmas!) a new flyover has opened for traffic headed for Interstate 275 from Tampa International Airport and the way you get to Interstate 275 to St. Petersburg or Tampa or FL 60 if you are headed for the Veterans Expressway or Clearwater by way of the Courtney Campbell Causeway from the airport will be modified slightly.

What does this mean for you? For those headed to St. Petersburg from the airport, that will mean no more having to make those quick weave movements to get where you want to go. I know, the new ramps will be a little confusing at first but we'll get used to it, so here it goes as to how you will exit Tampa International Airport:


If you are headed to Interstate 275:

You will follow a new flyover bridge which will soar about 70 feet high at its peak, offering a great view of Tampa Bay and the Howard Frankland Bridge as you head south. After the flyover there will be a temporary ramp which will put you in position for Interstate 275.


If you are headed to the Veterans Expressway or Clearwater via FL 60:

From what I understand there will be two new ramps, one a permanent and one a temporary ramp. Traffic headed towards the Veterans Expressway will use the new permanent ramp while traffic headed to Clearwater will use the temporary ramp. I believe this arrangement will help prevent these somehow dangerous weaving manuevers on FL 60 westbound just after you leave the airport.


Again I know it will be confusing at first but these changes are needed as work progresses on the Tampa Airport interchanges project which I believe will wrap up around 2010 according to the Florida DOT. It is very crucial when traffic is shifted to a new pattern so that the contractor can proceed on the next phase of the project; after all, when the improvements were planned many years ago it has to be done in a sequence that will minimize any disruption to traffic coming into and out of the airport. You got people headed to the airport trying to make their flight and you can't have any delays for motorists accessing the airport.

So, the best advice is when the new flyover ramps open watch the signs carefully when you exit Tampa International Airport, especially if you are a visitor to the Tampa Bay area and drive a rental car. I think the new ramps will be the best improvement ever made since the Tampa International Airport as we know today opened in 1971.


One of the many signs on the new ramp to Interstate 275 from TIA

And by the way, while we are on the subject of Interstate 275:

If you have driven on Interstate 275 lately between Exit 26 (54 Av N) and Exit 28 (Gandy Blvd./FL 694) you will by now have noticed the newly grinded concrete pavement as a part of the concrete rehabilitation project taking place. I got to agree, the newly grinded concrete pavement is much better and it improves the ride every time you drive Interstate 275 in this area. Moreover, a new mast arm traffic signal is in operation at Gandy Blvd. from the northbound Interstate 275 exit ramp which is a much better improvement than the old traffic signals on the span wire and Gandy Blvd. got an asphalt pavement makeover as well.

Let's head south to Interstate 175, one of the feeders serving downtown St. Petersburg. If you have driven Interstate 175 lately you will have noticed the newly grinded concrete pavement just like the concrete pavement on Interstate 275 mentioned earlier. In addition to the concrete pavement rehabilitation, signage is being replaced on Interstate 175 which means new signs! The original signage was in need of replacement as the original signage was installed when Interstate 175 opened back in 1979.

If you haven't been by Interstate 275 in St. Petersburg lately, you're in for a treat! You are probably asking yourself when I will get pictures of the newly installed signage on Interstate 175 to feature on the Interstate 175 page here at Interstate275Florida.com; that will probably be soon.