Westbound I-4 lanes closes overnight at Tampa's Malfunction Junction

Portions of I-4 WB closed until 5 a.m.

All westbound lanes of I-4 through downtown Tampa will close overnight, starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday. FOX 13's Danielle Zulkosky reports. 

TAMPA, Fla. - Drivers who use I-4 through downtown Tampa will need to plan ahead for Wednesday night.

The Florida Department of Transportation said all westbound lanes of I-4 through the Downtown Tampa Interchange will close starting at 10 p.m. Wednesday and reopen by 5 a.m. Thursday, weather permitting.

FDOT said the overnight closure is needed for crews to install overhead sign structures as part of the long-term rebuild of the interchange where I-4 and I-275 meet.

What we know:

Once the closure begins, westbound I-4 drivers will be forced to exit at the Selmon Connector. Drivers will then take the Selmon Expressway to Exit 8, which leads to Kennedy Boulevard.

"There's going to be a ton of signage out there," said Kris Carson, an FDOT spokesperson. "We're suspending the toll. So, if you do get on this toll road, you will not be charged just through the hours of 10 p.m. to 5 a.m." 

To reach I-275 south, drivers should continue west on Kennedy Boulevard, turn right onto Ashley Drive, and re-enter the interstate using the southbound entrance ramp.

READ: I-4 express lanes approved by Hillsborough County transportation planning board

To reach I-275 north, drivers should continue west on Kennedy Boulevard, turn right onto Jefferson Street, continue north onto Orange Avenue, and use the northbound I-275 entrance ramp.

Message boards and signage will be in place to help guide drivers through the detour.

READ: Tampa leaders give update on next phase of West River BUILD Project

Big picture view:

The overnight shutdown is part of a larger, multi-year construction project at the Downtown Tampa Interchange, often called Malfunction Junction. The project includes rebuilding bridges, widening ramps, and adding lanes to improve safety and reduce congestion in one of the busiest traffic areas in the region.

"This is part of an ongoing project that we started in 2023, a safety operational improvement project, making a lot of safety improvements out there, adding some new ramps and such, and so we know it's gonna be a little bit of inconvenience. That's why we're doing it at night," Carson said.

Construction on the project began in fall 2023 and is expected to continue through early 2027.

What Drivers are Saying:

"I've kind of lived here 35 years, so you kind of know what to avoid at this point in Tampa, and I-4 and I-75 is one that you avoid like the plague," said Jorge Ugarte, a Tampa driver.

One mom said driving in the area causes her a lot of stress.

"Especially for like school pickup and stuff like that, people are already driving crazy," said Aila Beckman, a Tampa driver. "There's extra traffic, and it's very nerve-racking for sure." 

"It's actually stressful to drive it," Ugarte said. "I mean you're white-knuckling when you're driving that interstate. Once you get past it, it smooths out so it's not too bad."

Beckman wants to see solutions. 

"It's super annoying, and I hope that they fix it right away, because it's hazardous," Beckman said.

Ugarte said he wants to see more public transportation introduced as an option.

"I wish we had light rail," Ugarte said. "You know I mean you look at a city like Charlotte that's about the same size kind of like our sister city, Charlotte, North Carolina, and they figured out light rail, and it works great." 

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