Page Nine:  28 St S (Exit 21) and 31 St S (Exit 20)

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Introduction

Southbound Interstate 275 at 28 St S

Perspective of Interstate 275 at 28 St S

Northbound Interstate 275 at 31 St S

Perspective of Interstate 275 at 31 St S

 

Introduction

The seventh segment of Interstate 275 has the highway turning in a southwesterly direction in order to eventually link up with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and US 19.  Constructed in 1980 from just east of 28 St S to Queensboro Av S, 28 St S and 31 St S feature partial interchanges.  28 St S features a northbound entrance and a southbound exit, while 31 St S features a southbound exit and a northbound entrance.

The 31 St S exit is constructed almost like if you were exiting onto another expressway, but in reality it isn’t.  There were plans for a Pinellas Expressway that would have begun at this location and would have run using what is now the Pinellas Trail (a walking and bicycle trail on the site of a former railroad right of way), but those plans were nixed due to local opposition.  Gibbs High School as well as Treasure Island (via Central Avenue) is reached at the 31 St S exit.

28 St S is a north-south street from 62 Av N in the Lealman area to 18 Av S.  It is mainly two lanes with a continuous four lane section from 9 Av N to just south of Interstate 275 at 11 Av S.  Improvements were not made until well after Interstate 275 was built; 28 St S was converted from a two-lane to a four-lane street in the immediate vicinity of Interstate 275 in the late 1980's.  To have traffic avoid this substandard street at the time Interstate 275 was built, signage was erected on Interstate 275 having southbound traffic exit at 5 Av N (Exit 23B) in order to reach US 19 as well as the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

The highway was constructed south to Queensboro Av S, but no construction was without controversy.  For a while there was concern with the south St. Petersburg community over access to the gulf beaches from south St. Petersburg using either 15 Av S or 18 Av S.  It was eventually decided that 18 Av S would be the through street for access.  When the next segment of Interstate 275 was built it included an overpass at 18 Av S which pleased everyone in the immediate area.

Southbound Interstate 275 at 28 St S

	28 St S is coming up in 1/2 mile This is on southbound Interstate 275 as the mainline southbound lanes narrow to two lanes as we pass through Exit 22, Interstate 175. We'll be joined with a third left lane from westbound Interstate 175 just ahead and Interstate 275 will be three lanes southbound again all the way to Exit 17.
	28 St S coming up in 3/4 mile This is from westbound Interstate 175 as we transition to southbound Interstate 275. Notice that the right lane will end as soon as we go under the flyover bridge just ahead. Be careful: As soon as the left lane merges into the southbound Interstate 275 mainline, it is very tricky to make an immediate lane change to the right depending on traffic.
	Final opportunity to exit at 28 St S Unlike Exit 32 (4 St N) there is no signage warning traffic of the lack of a southbound reentry onto Interstate 275 from 28 St S. Should you happen to exit here by mistake, take 28 St S northbound to 5 Av S, then west on 5 Av S to 31 St S. Proceed south on 31 St S for a few blocks and you will see the signs for Interstate 275 south.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at 28 St S

	Interstate 275 as it crosses 28 St S This is looking south on 28 St S. When this interchange opened in 1981 the ramps intersecting 28 St S used to feature traffic signals. These signals were taken down due to low traffic volume and the need was no longer justified.
	View of 28 St S looking northbound Here you can see a sign for northbound Interstate 275 to Tampa. Notice that the sign gantry has been there since 1980 when this section of Interstate 275 was built. You can only go northbound but you can't go southbound from here.
	View of 28 St S looking southbound Again you can see a sign for northbound Interstate 275 to Tampa. Notice that the sign gantry too has been there since 1980 when this section of Interstate 275 was built. As mentioned before, you can only go northbound but you can't go southbound from here.

Northbound Interstate 275 at 31 St S

 

	Advance signage for 31 St S coming up in 1 mile As this is a left exit, traffic desiring to exit at 31 St S must be in the left lane.
	You can reach Treasure Island from 31 St S Simply head north on 31 St S to Central Avenue. Then west on Central Avenue across the newly reconstructed (and toll free) Treasure Island Causeway to Treasure Island.
	Intermediate signage for 31 St S You must be in one of the two left lanes to exit. The signage is new thanks to a recent concrete pavement rehabilitation project.
	Final opportunity to exit at 31 St S Again the signage is new thanks to a recent concrete pavement rehabilitation project. With the exception of Exit 17, Tampa will not be mentioned as a control city until Exit 22, the Interstate 175 interchange.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at 31 St S

 

	Southbound lanes of Interstate 275 crossing the 31 St S exit ramps   The reason Exit 20 looks like you are transitioning to another highway was because of the way the interchange was designed in the 1970's: This would have been the start of the proposed Pinellas Expressway which would have carried traffic to Seminole, Largo and Clearwater basically following the old CSX railroad right of way which we know today as the Pinellas Trail.
	Reduce your speed and be prepared to stop The blinker along with a right curve warning sign reminds you to slow to 20 mph. But be careful: There is a stop sign for 31 St S just ahead.
	Use 31 St S northbound for Treasure Island and Tropicana Field To use 31 St S as an alternative route to Tropicana Field, head north on 31 St S to 5 Av S; east on 5 Av S to 16 St S and the many parking lots for Tropicana Field. For Treasure Island head north on 31 St S to Central Avenue, then head west on Central Avenue to Treasure Island.
	Southbound on 31 St S You can see both southbound and northbound lanes of Interstate 275 as it crosses 31 St S. Notice that the southbound lanes are higher due to the ramp design, especially its intended use as an expressway.
	Northbound on 31 St S You can see where the northbound and southbound lanes of Interstate 275 cross 31 St S.
	Closeup view of the southbound lanes of Interstate 275 crossing 31 St S Again the southbound lanes are higher than the northbound lanes due to the design of the ramp to the left.
	View of Gibbs High School from 31 St S This is looking from the entrance from 31 St S, just north of the Interstate 275 entrance. Gibbs High School was recently rebuilt and is the home to a few specialized programs. I know we need to keep our students safe and I believe in that, but with the fences surrounding our schools I feel it looks more like a correctional facility than a public school.
	Another view of Gibbs High School This is seen from the on ramp from 31 St S to southbound Interstate 275.
	The on ramp onto Interstate 275 south from 31 St S   Unlike most of Interstate 275's entrance and exit ramps this ramp has more of an expressway feel to it. As mentioned previously the Pinellas Expressway was supposed to start here but it was quietly opposed. Sure wish our local officials had indeed built this needed highway to keep up with rapid growth in Pinellas County but I can't be built now due to land prices and community opposition, to name a few.