HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. – Drivers moving through Hillsborough County tonight will need to plan for a quick detour as road crews move in to resurface a busy stretch of pavement.
The Florida Department of Transportation has announced that the eastbound Interstate 4 off-ramp to Branch Forbes Road (Exit 17) will close at 9 p.m. this evening, Tuesday, February 17.
The closure is expected to last until 6 a.m. Wednesday morning, though, officials noted the schedule depends on clear weather. This brief shutdown is part of a larger ongoing project to upgrade the I-4 interchange at Branch Forbes Road, with tonight’s focus specifically on paving operations to smooth out the transition onto the local roadway.
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To get around the closure, motorists traveling east on I-4 will be directed to bypass Exit 17 and continue to Exit 19. From there, the detour route instructs drivers to turn right onto Thonotosassa Road, take another right onto Baker Street, and follow US 92 (Hillsborough Avenue) back west toward Branch Forbes Road.
Large electronic message boards and temporary road signs have been placed along the interstate to guide commuters through the detour.
Safety remains a priority during the overnight shift, and transportation officials are urging everyone behind the wheel to slow down, stay alert for workers near the shoulder, and exercise extra caution while navigating the construction zone.
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