TAMPA, Fla. — Drivers moving through Tampa late this Sunday night should plan for a detour on Interstate 4. Construction crews are scheduled to close the westbound lanes at State Road 574 (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) starting at 11 p.m. on Sunday, January 18.
The shutdown is expected to last until 5 a.m. Monday, January 19, provided the weather cooperates.
According to project officials, the closure is necessary to allow crews to perform overhead signage work safely. It is a key step in the ongoing I-4 westbound auxiliary lane project, which aims to ease congestion by adding a travel lane between Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard (Exit 5) and 50th Street (Exit 3).
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For those on the road during these hours, all westbound traffic will be forced off at Exit 5. The official detour route directs drivers to turn right onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, followed by a left onto 50th Street. From there, a right turn onto Columbus Drive will lead motorists back to the westbound I-4 entrance ramp.
Access to the interstate from the SR 574 entrance ramp will also be blocked during the operation.
Message boards and temporary signs will be in place to guide drivers through the detour loop. Officials are urging motorists to slow down and stay alert for workers while navigating the construction zone.
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