I-275 lane closures expected this weekend in downtown Tampa: Here’s what to know

Construction begins at I-275 & I-4 interchange

FOX 13's Regina Gonzalez gives a heads up to drivers that I-275 will have heavy traffic this weekend.

TAMPA, Fla. - Tampa commuters need to find alternate routes this weekend as all but one lane of I-275 closes for road construction.

When will I-275 lanes close in downtown Tampa?

What we know:

FDOT is closing all northbound lanes and all but one southbound lane on I-275 in the downtown interchange area beginning at 12:01 a.m. October 4 through October 6 at 5 a.m.

Why are lanes shut down on I-275?

The contractor for the downtown interchange improvements will be putting up girders for the new two-lane bridge from southbound I-275 to eastbound I-4.

According to FDOT, four steel box girders are going to be installed this weekend. Two of those girders are going to be put up above northbound I-275, and it’s not safe to have girders above live traffic, so the roadway has to be closed. 

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This project will expand the bridge to two lanes as opposed to the one lane that is currently in place. 

FDOT added that other improvements for the overall project include converting the old southbound I-275 to I-4 bridge to an I-275 southbound to Ybor bridge. There will also be an additional lane going from I-4 west to northbound 275.

What they're saying:

"The 275 southbound to I-4 east is going to be landing on the northside, or the left-side, of the roadway for some people," Andrew Williams, senior construction project manager for FDOT explained. "Then the I-275 to Ybor is actually going to be on the outside, on the right side, on the southside of the bridge. So, you’re going to help avoid some of that weave that we have going on right now. Even that northbound 275 to Ybor is going to be staying on that outside and actually have it’s own bridge."

What you can do:

On Saturday, October 4, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., northbound I-275 motorists should follow I-4 (Exit 45B), exit at Exit 3, turn right on Columbus Drive, left on US 41, left on Hillsborough Avenue, then continue west to re-enter northbound I-275. 

From 12:01 a.m. Saturday, October 4, to 5 a.m. Monday, October 6, only one southbound lane on I-275 from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard through the interchange will be open to traffic. 
Motorists should continue south to Exit 45A and use the temporary ramp to re-enter southbound I-275. Southbound I-275 motorists needing access Downtown East-West (Exit 45A) during the closure should exit at 46A, turn right on Floribraska Avenue, left on Tampa Street, and continue south to reach downtown streets. 

The southbound I-275 ramp to eastbound I-4 will remain open to motorists all weekend. 

Motorists traveling on westbound I-4 needing to access southbound I-275 or Downtown Tampa, Saturday, October 4, from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., will proceed onto the northbound I-275 entrance ramp, exit the interstate at Exit 46B, turn left onto SR 574 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard), left onto Tampa Street, and continue south on Tampa Street to access the southbound I-275 entrance ramp or other Downtown Tampa streets.

What's next:

Construction of the entire project is expected to be done in 2027.