TAMPA, Fla. – Drivers in Tampa should prepare for a series of overnight detours starting tonight as the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority (THEA) begins critical safety testing on the Selmon Expressway. Crews are scheduled to calibrate newly installed technology designed to detect wrong-way drivers, a move aimed at enhancing commuter safety across the toll road system.
The work is split into three phases, beginning Friday, February 20. On that night, the eastbound exit at 22nd Street (Exit 9) and the westbound exit at 50th Street (Exit 11) will both shut down at 8 p.m. and remain closed until 6 a.m. the following morning.
The schedule shifts further east on Saturday, February 21, when the eastbound ramp to Faulkenburg Road (Exit 14) closes from 10 p.m. until 6 a.m. Finally, on Sunday, February 22, the eastbound exit at 78th Street (Exit 12) will be blocked off between 8 p.m. and 6 a.m.
THEA officials have confirmed that detour signs will be posted along the expressway to guide motorists around the closures. While the agency expressed regret for the temporary inconvenience, it emphasized that the testing is necessary to ensure the high-tech sensors are functioning properly.
Commuters traveling during these late-night hours are encouraged to leave early and stay alert for workers and changing traffic patterns near the construction zones.
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