TAMPA, Fla. – Drivers who rely on the northbound I-275 ramp to get toward the airport or the Veterans Expressway are going to need a backup plan starting this Sunday.
Transportation officials have announced that Exit 39, which feeds into SR 60 West and SR 589 North, will be closed every night for the next three weeks.
The closures are set to run from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. the following morning. This schedule begins Sunday, April 12, and runs through Thursday, April 16.
The pattern repeats from Sunday, April 19, through Thursday, April 23, and wraps up with a final stretch from Sunday, April 26, through Thursday, April 30. All of this work is contingent on the weather staying clear.
If you usually take this route, you won’t be totally stranded, but you will have to take a detour. The official recommendation for motorists heading toward Memorial Highway or the Veterans Expressway is to keep driving east on Kennedy Boulevard, take a left onto SR 60, and then head north from there.
READ: Sarasota Streets Swept Clean: Massive Fentanyl and Cash Haul Ends in Arrest
Fortunately, access to eastbound Kennedy Boulevard and Westshore Boulevard is staying open while the ramp is blocked off.
These nightly disruptions are part of the massive Westshore Interchange project. Crews need the extra space and safety to install sections of temporary barrier walls throughout the construction zone.
Safety officials are urging anyone behind the wheel to stay sharp. “Drivers should use caution while traveling through the work zone and remain alert for construction workers and equipment,” the project update noted.
With heavy machinery moving around in the dark, keeping your eyes on the road and off your phone is more important than ever.
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox
