TAMPA, Fla. — Local drivers who usually coast through the downtown interchange late at night will need to rethink their route this Monday. Officials have announced that all westbound lanes of Interstate 4 passing through the “Malfunction Junction” interchange will be completely closed to traffic starting at 10 p.m. on Monday, March 30.
The shutdown is scheduled to wrap up by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, March 31, provided the weather stays clear.
The closure is a necessary step for the ongoing Downtown Tampa Interchange Safety and Operational Improvements project. During this seven-hour window, construction crews will be installing massive overhead sign structures that span the travel lanes.
If you are heading west on I-4 during these hours, you won’t be able to merge directly onto I-275. Instead, you will be forced to exit onto the Selmon Connector. From there, the detour depends on your final destination.
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To catch I-275 South, drivers should take the Selmon Expressway to Exit 8 toward Kennedy Boulevard, make a right on Ashley Drive, and follow the posted signs.
Those looking for I-275 North will need to stay on Kennedy Boulevard, turn right on Jefferson Street, and continue onto Orange Avenue to reach the northbound on-ramp.
Electronic message boards are already being positioned to warn commuters of the upcoming shift. Transportation officials are urging everyone to stay alert for workers and move cautiously through the work zone, as the area will be active with heavy machinery and ground crews throughout the night.
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