275 and Downtown Tampa interchange getting extra, wider lanes to assist ease visitors as work reaches 1-year mark

TAMPA, Fla. – With rush hour visitors round Tampa starting earlier as of late alongside the backups, the Florida Division of Transportation hopes the widening of I-275 north and the downtown interchange will assist congestion.

On I-275, employees are constructing out further lanes north of Tampa.

“We’re creating 4 lanes in every course from principally I-4 to Hanna Avenue with that undertaking that is ongoing proper now,” stated Austin Petersen, a development undertaking supervisor with FDOT Tampa.

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The two.5-mile space will keep busy by means of the center of subsequent yr once they anticipate to complete up work on the I-275 enhancements undertaking, considered one of a number of main objects on FDOT’s to-do listing.

“Proper now, they’re working form of within the center to do a few of the connections for drainage in addition to end up a few of the widening areas which are in there. It is form of a combination of either side, however it’ll basically appear to be one new lane on the outdoors,” stated Petersen.

The undertaking prices $96.7 million to assist ease the congestion, and it connects straight into Tampa’s personal “malfunction junction,” the world the place I-275 and I-4 merge close to downtown Tampa.

Development employees began with what’s occurring underground.

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“At the moment, we have been largely engaged on ending up a micro-tunnel operation, which is an underground drainage set up,” Petersen stated.

It’s a part of the FDOT’s downtown Tampa interchange undertaking, an issue spot with fixed backups and fender benders. The $223.5 million undertaking provides an additional lane from I-4 west to I-275 northbound and southbound. 

It builds a brand new exit ramp into Ybor Metropolis and extra. By Nebraska Avenue, crews are constructing columns and foundations for the brand new two-lane flyover ramp bridge.

The ramp will ultimately carry visitors into I-4 eastbound.

“By the top of this yr, you’ll begin seeing a few of the foundations getting into for the brand new two-lane flyover bridge,” stated Petersen.

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The work on the downtown Interchange received’t wrap up till 2027. Till then, drivers can anticipate lane closures and detours, particularly at evening to permit for overhead work and widening work.

By the point the work is completed, the final ending touches will go in, including some inexperienced house to brighten up all of the concrete.

“We’ll have three of these pickleball courts and canine parks that shall be, you already know, group options in addition to a shared use path community,” stated Petersen.

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