ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. – Drivers planning a late-night trek across the Howard Frankland Bridge this week should prepare for a bit of a headache. Starting Monday, April 6, the northbound I-275 entrance ramps from both Ulmerton Road (SR 688) and 4th Street North (SR 687) will be shutting down nightly.
The closures are scheduled to run from 11 p.m. until 5 a.m. each night through Wednesday, April 8. If the weather doesn’t cooperate, these times might shift, but for now, the plan is to keep the ramps closed during those six-hour windows to let crews get to work.
So, where is everyone supposed to go? If you find yourself stuck at Ulmerton or 4th Street North, you’ll be rerouted toward Roosevelt Boulevard (SR 686). From there, you can link back up with northbound I-275.
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Construction crews are taking over the asphalt to handle paving operations. This work is a small but necessary piece of the massive ongoing project to build the new southbound I-275 Howard Frankland Bridge, which aims to improve the connection between Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
Electronic message boards and warning signs are already being positioned to help guide drivers through the detour. Even with the signs in place, local officials are warning people to expect extra congestion and some delays.
If you’re heading toward Tampa in the middle of the night, it’s probably a good idea to leave a few minutes early or keep a close eye on your GPS for real-time traffic shifts.
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