Page Three: Roosevelt Blvd. (FL 686)
and 118 Av N Connector (CR 296), Exit
30
On this page:
Introduction
Interstate 275 southbound at Exit 30
Interstate 275 northbound at Exit 30
Perspective of Interstate 275 at CR 296
Perspective of Interstate 275 at Roosevelt Blvd.
Introduction
In 1970 work was begun on the extension of Interstate 275 into St. Petersburg.
The first segment extended Interstate 275 from its temporary end at Martin
Luther King St N
to just south of Roosevelt Blvd. An interchange was constructed at
Roosevelt Blvd. (FL 686) and much of Roosevelt Blvd. from Ulmerton Road
to just east of 16 St N was
brought up from a two-lane rural highway to a four-lane highway when
Interstate 275 was constructed. The rest of
Roosevelt Blvd. east of 16 St N was brought up to four lanes when Gandy
Blvd. was realigned in 1977.
When Interstate 275 was
built this area was nothing more than open wilderness. Today
Roosevelt Blvd. is a major commute route for those that work in the
Carillon office complex as well as the major companies that dot the
sides of the highway. Traffic backups on Roosevelt Blvd. are very
common, especially throughout the morning and afternoon rush hour, which
is why you see signage warning motorists to reduce speed on the flyover
ramp from northbound Interstate 275 to westbound Roosevelt Blvd. and
that congestion is expected in the morning commute hours.
Exit 30 features an
elaborate exit and entry system, as it is a complete interchange.
Northbound Interstate 275 motorists headed to the Carillon Office Park or to
Largo or
Clearwater have the advantage of using a dedicated exit ramp
obviating the need to cross Roosevelt Blvd. at grade to make a left turn
from northbound Interstate 275.
Just recently in 2002
new ramps were constructed allowing partial access to Interstate 275 from the new
CR 296 corridor, commonly known as 118 Av N.
Motorists can enter Interstate 275 from CR 296 to either go southbound to St.
Petersburg or northbound to Tampa. However, motorists coming from Tampa
on Interstate 275 can exit onto CR 296 as an alternative to Roosevelt
Blvd.; ramp connections for motorists coming from St. Petersburg are
still on the drawing boards.
Presently the ramp for
CR 296 from Interstate 275 ends at an at grade intersection with 31 St N
controlled by mast arm traffic signals. There are plans in the
future to make the connection between St. Petersburg and Clearwater via
the Bayside Bridge (CR 611) easier by converting the ramps into a
mainline with interchanges at CR 296 proper (118 Av N) as well as
Ulmerton Road, as well as upgrading Roosevelt Blvd. north of Ulmerton
Road past the St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport to the
interchange with 49 St N and the Bayside Bridge including a flyover from
southbound 49 St N to eastbound Roosevelt Blvd.
As of October 2009 work
is underway to construct a ramp from northbound Interstate 275 to
westbound CR 296. When the ramp is completed this will enable
motorists to transition directly from Interstate 275 to CR 296 without
having to use Roosevelt Blvd. and waiting in traffic to make a left turn
onto 28 St N which leads to CR 296.
CR 296 is a relief
commuter route for motorists wishing to access destinations in the
central portion of Pinellas County and who do not wish to dread the
commute on Ulmerton Road. CR 296 was created by the union of three
different roads in Pinellas County – 118 Av N,
Bryan Dairy Road and 102 Av N.
Seminole can be reached via CR 296 from Interstate 275.
Interstate 275
Southbound at Exit 30
 |
First advance signage for Roosevelt Blvd. and CR 296
Notice the newly constructed Ulmerton Road eastbound overpass in the background. |
 |
Second advance signage for Roosevelt Blvd. and CR 296
Notice the dedicated right hand exit only lane which services Roosevelt Blvd.; the lane next to the right lane services through Interstate 275 southbound traffic as well as CR 296. |
 |
Final signage for Roosevelt Blvd. and CR 296
The southbound off ramp exits as two right lanes here. |
 |
Now that you have exited Interstate 275 at Exit 30...
You have a choice of Roosevelt Blvd. (FL 686) or 118 Av N (CR 296) here. Use Roosevelt Blvd. to reach the Carillon Office Park or CR 296 (118 Av N) to reach Seminole. |
Interstate 275
Northbound at Exit 30
Captions shown in
red indicate that the signage has been
replaced as part of the northbound Interstate 275 to westbound CR 296
ramp project.
 |
First advance signage for Roosevelt Blvd.
Unlike southbound Interstate 275 you cannot exit onto CR 296 from here. That's
about to change. |
 |
Use Roosevelt Blvd. to reach the St. Petersburg / Clearwater International Airport
Should you miss this exit you will be obligated to travel nine miles to the next exit, which is FL 60 (Exit 39) and the exit for Tampa International Airport in Tampa. Via the Howard Frankland Bridge, of course. |
 |
Second advance signage for Roosevelt Blvd.
The exit is coming up in 1/2 mile; notice the dedicated exit only lane. |
 |
Final opportunity to exit at Roosevelt Blvd.
You can reach the Carillon Office Park as well as Largo and Clearwater (via the Bayside Bridge) from here. Again if you miss this exit plan on a nine mile trip to Tampa and Exit 39 to turn around as well as expected heavy traffic on the Howard Frankland Bridge! |
 |
At Roosevelt Blvd. from northbound Interstate 275 you have a choice
You can head west on Roosevelt Blvd. to the Carillon Office Park as well as Largo and Clearwater (via the Bayside Bridge) or east on Roosevelt Blvd. to 4 St N and Gandy Blvd. |
|
 |
First advance signage for
CR 296 and Roosevelt Blvd. Use the
far right lane for Roosevelt Blvd. or the lane next to the right
lane for CR 296 and Roosevelt Blvd. |
 |
Second advance signage for
CR 296 and Roosevelt Blvd. The exit
is coming up in 1/2 mile; notice the dedicated exit only lane
for Roosevelt Blvd. |
 |
Final opportunity to exit at CR 296 and Roosevelt Blvd.
From
this exit you can reach the Carillon Office Park as well as
Largo and Clearwater (via the Bayside Bridge) on Roosevelt Blvd.
as well as Pinellas Park and Seminole by way of CR 296.
You can also go east on Roosevelt Blvd. to Martin Luther King St
N as well as 4 St N and Gandy Blvd. Be careful - missing
this exit means a nine mile trip to Tampa over the Howard
Frankland Bridge and making a legal turnaround at Exit 39,
Kennedy Blvd. (and not to mention the heavy traffic!). |
 |
At
Roosevelt Blvd. and CR 296 from northbound Interstate 275 you
have a choice
You can head west on Roosevelt Blvd. to the Carillon Office Park as well as Largo and Clearwater (via the Bayside Bridge),
west on CR 296 to Pinellas Park and Seminole or east on Roosevelt Blvd. to 4 St N and Gandy Blvd. |
 |
Advance signage for the
Roosevelt Blvd./CR 296 split Be in
the left lane for CR 296 or the right lane for Roosevelt Blvd.
Also use Roosevelt Blvd. if you are headed to the St.
Petersburg/Clearwater International Airport. |
 |
At the split for Roosevelt
Blvd. and CR 296 Here is where CR
296 and Roosevelt Blvd. (FL 686) diverge. CR 296 will
cross Roosevelt Blvd. and link up with the ramp from southbound
Interstate 275 to form the westbound lanes of CR 296.
Speaking of CR 296, it is the union of three roads in central
Pinellas County: 118 Av N, Bryan Dairy Road and 102 Av N.
The connection to 102 Av N is made possible thanks to a bridge
crossing Lake Seminole which was constructed in the 1990's,
making an alternative to already crowded Park Blvd. or Ulmerton
Rd. |
Perspective of
Interstate 275 at CR 296 (118 Av N)
 |
At the split for Interstate 275 from CR 296
Proceed straight ahead for northbound Interstate 275 to Tampa or bear to the right for southbound Interstate 275 to St. Petersburg. |
 |
The right lane ends before the flyover
The northbound Interstate 275 ramp from CR 296 squeezes into one lane so that it can accommodate the on ramp from Roosevelt Blvd. after the flyover bridge. There are plans to connect the right lane that ends here to eastbound Roosevelt Blvd but that's still on the drawing board. |
 |
On the ramp to northbound Interstate 275 from CR 296
On a clear day you can see the skyline of downtown Tampa from here. |
 |
View of Interstate 275 crossing Roosevelt Blvd.
This is a great panoramic view looking west as we cross Roosevelt Blvd. |
 |
On the ramp from southbound Interstate 275 to westbound CR 296
The on ramp for Interstate 275 south from Roosevelt Blvd. is directly below the flyover. |
 |
118 Av N is coming up in 1/2 mile
CR 296 is also known as 118 Av N. |
 |
The exit for 118 Av N
CR 296 continues westward on 118 Av N at the traffic signal ahead. Future plans call for a connection to the Bayside Bridge via a new alignment to Ulmerton Road and continuing north on Roosevelt Blvd. The Sunshine Speedway (an auto racing track) was sold to the Florida DOT to make room for this new connection. This is why you see a stub ramp to the left. |
 |
At the intersection of 118 Av N (CR 296) and 30 St N
Turn left to reach US 19 as well as Seminole, Largo and Clearwater as well as Bryan Dairy Road. Turn right to reach 28 St N; CR 296 ends just past the entrance to Home Shopping Network's campus (would you like to order a cubic zirconia?). |
Perspective of
Interstate 275 at Roosevelt Boulevard (FL 686)
Captions shown in
red indicate that the signage has been
replaced as part of the northbound Interstate 275 to westbound CR 296
ramp project.
 |
Entrance to northbound Interstate 275
This is looking west on Roosevelt Blvd. |
 |
Another entrance to northbound Interstate 275
This is eastbound on Roosevelt Blvd. |
 |
Entrance to southbound Interstate 275
Again this is looking west on Roosevelt Blvd. The signage should read Bradenton as we are already in St. Petersburg. Use the left lane to access southbound Interstate 275 after going under the third overpass. Perhaps the Florida DOT should consider installing a traffic signal at this entrance due to increased traffic. |
 |
Another entrance to southbound Interstate 275
Again this is eastbound on Roosevelt Blvd. Notice the dedicated exit lane to the right.
This sign was replaced with a newer overhead gantry further to
the west in order to make room for the new ramp to westbound CR
296 from northbound Interstate 275. |
 |
The Florida standard merging traffic symbol
Common to most merging traffic signs in Florida, this is located on the ramp to southbound Interstate 275 from Roosevelt Blvd. Beyond this sign are two yield signs flanking the ramp; traffic must yield to entering traffic from eastbound Roosevelt Blvd. In the background is the flyover ramp for CR 296. |
 |
Overhead for Interstate
275 from eastbound Roosevelt Blvd.
As part of the new CR 296 ramp project a new overhead gantry was
installed for eastbound Roosevelt Blvd. traffic approaching
Interstate 275. Notice the two right lanes for southbound
Interstate 275 and signage for northbound Interstate 275 to
Tampa. The overpass just behind the gantry is that of the
new CR 296 ramp. |
