Page Thirteen:  The Final Stretch to Interstate 75:

 US 19 South (Exit 5), US 41 (Exit 2) and the Interstate 75 southern terminus

As this page covers three exits, feel free to scroll through the entire page or click on one of the links below to jump to a specific section of this page:

On this page:

 

Introduction

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 5

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 5

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 2

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 2

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 2

Interstate 275 Southbound at Interstate 75

Interstate 275 Northbound at Interstate 75

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75 Northbound

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75 Southbound

Introduction

Constructed in 1983 and 1984 this segment of Interstate 275 connects the Sunshine Skyway Bridge to Interstate 75 which enables motorists to travel south to Sarasota, Ft. Myers, Naples and Ft. Lauderdale and Miami via the Alligator Alley.  In addition to the interchanges at US 19 south, US 41 and Interstate 75, Interstate 275 crosses Abel Road, Bayshore Road as well as the CSX railroad tracks as well as a bridge across Terra Ceia Bay. 

This important piece of the Interstate 275 puzzle plus the upgrade of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Interstate 275 segment in St. Petersburg from 54 Av S to south of Pinellas Point Drive South completes Interstate 275's 59 mile journey across two important bridges, the Sunshine Skyway Bridge and the Howard Frankland Bridge, and through the metropolitan areas of St. Petersburg and Tampa.  Today motorists who wish to travel to Ft. Lauderdale or Miami from St. Petersburg and vice versa can do so on an interstate highway rather than deal with the traffic nightmares on US 41 or with unknown two-lane highways.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 5

 

	Advance signage for US 19 South to Bradenton The toll plaza for northbound Interstate 275 traffic headed to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is to your left.
	US 19 South is coming up in 1/4 mile Use the center or right lane to exit onto US 19 South as shown on the diagrammatic sign.
	Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at US 19 South Both Interstate 275 and US 19 part ways here at Exit 5. US 19 continues south for about 2-1/2 to 3 miles before ending at an interchange with US 41. To reach Bradenton, use US 19 South until you get to the end at US 41; from there you can use regular US 41 if you are passing through or Business US 41 to reach downtown Bradenton. Remember, there is no reentry onto southbound Interstate 275 at Exit 5.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 5

 

	Last U-Turn 500 Feet Ahead This is on US 19 North just before the entrance to Interstate 275 North. Continuing past the last U-Turn will necessitate going through the Sunshine Skyway Bridge toll plaza and incurring the $1.00 toll.
	This intersection on US 19 is your final opportunity before Interstate 275 North From here US 19 North multiplexes with Interstate 275 North for the trip across the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Didn't the sign in the previous picture tell you?

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 2

 

	Advance signage for US 41 coming up in two miles This is located just after we cross the northbound lanes of US 19.
	Another advance sign for US 41 coming up in one mile You can reach Palmetto as well as Bradenton here in case you missed the US 19 exit (Exit 5).
	You can reach Port Manatee and the Manatee Civic Center here at Exit 2 Port Manatee is reached by using US 41 north for about two miles and it will be on your left. The Manatee Civic Center is reached by using US 41 south; it will be on your left as you pass US 301 in Palmetto.
	Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at US 41 This is the last exit before the southern terminus of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 2

 

	Advance signage for US 41 coming up in 1/2 mile This is the first Interstate 275 exit for northbound travelers. Also notice that the sign to the right blinks if the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is closed.
	Final opportunity to exit Interstate 275 at US 41 Passing this exit will mean a trip through the Sunshine Skyway Bridge toll plaza and incurring the $1.00 toll.
	Mileage sign for destinations reached on US 41 Palmetto is 5 miles and Bradenton is 7 miles on US 41 south while Port Manatee is 3 miles away on US 41 north.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 2

 

	Approaching Interstate 275 in 1/2 mile Taken on US 41 north.
	Looking north on US 41 as we go under Interstate 275 Simply take a left at the intersection ahead to get on the on ramp to Interstate 275 north to reach St. Petersburg via the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Proceed north on US 41 to reach Port Manatee.
	Looking south on US 41 as we go under Interstate 275 Turn left at the intersection right after going under the bridges to reach Interstate 75 or proceed south on US 41 to Palmetto and Bradenton.

Interstate 275 Southbound at the Southern Terminus with Interstate 75 (Exit 228)

 

	First Diagrammatic Signage for Interstate 75 The southern terminus of Interstate 275 is coming up in one mile as we cross US 41. Notice that traffic headed to Tampa must be in the right lane while traffic headed to Naples must be in the left lane.
	Second Diagrammatic Signage for Interstate 75 Interstate 275's southern terminus is coming up in 1/2 mile. Notice the right lane added from US 41. Use the right lane if you are headed to Tampa or the left/center lanes if you are headed to Naples.
	Final opportunity to decide which way you want to go on Interstate 75 Notice how the signage is mounted on the overpass bridge carrying Ellenton-Gillette Road over Interstate 275.
	Final mile markers on Interstate 275 south Just one more mile on Interstate 275 south to the terminus.
	Signage for Interstate 75's Exit 229 to Parrish This is seen on the flyover ramp from southbound Interstate 275 to northbound Interstate 75.
	View from the flyover ramp In the distance you can see a housing development as we make the transition from southbound Interstate 275 to northbound Interstate 75. Notice that the ramp itself is only one lane, which is appropriate for the amount of traffic carried daily.
	Coming down the hill from the flyover ramp Right after we come down this hill you can merge onto Interstate 75 north or remain in this lane to exit at Exit 229 just ahead.
	Exit 229 from Interstate 75 Here's the first exit on northbound Interstate 75 from southbound Interstate 275, which is Exit 229, Manatee County Road 6 to Parrish. Parrish is a little town on US 301 just east of here. This interchange also makes a great turn around if you meant to go onto Interstate 75 south instead.
	Still on Interstate 275 south - only for a short while This is actually the ramp onto Interstate 75 south.
	Going under the northbound flyover The bridge in the foreground is the flyover bridge from Interstate 275 south to Interstate 75 north.
	End of Interstate 275 south The point where the two lanes of Interstate 275 south merge onto Interstate 75 south marks the southern terminus of Interstate 275. From here you can go on to Bradenton, Sarasota, Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda, Ft. Myers, Naples, and even Ft. Lauderdale and Miami by way of the Alligator Alley.

Interstate 275 Northbound at the Southern Terminus with Interstate 75 (Exit 228)

 

	First mile marker on Interstate 275 north Welcome to Interstate 275!
	Northbound on the flyover ramp This is as we cross Interstate 75.
	View of the flyover ramp The flyover ramp in the foreground carries traffic from southbound Interstate 275 to northbound Interstate 75. From this point forward Interstate 275 will be a four lane highway (with the exception of the Sunshine Skyway toll plaza) until after Exit 17, 54 Av N in St. Petersburg.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75 Northbound

 

	Interstate 275 north approaching in two miles Notice the diagrammatic signage as well as the advisory sign to the right advising motorists if the Sunshine Skyway is closed. The overpass in the foreground is Mendoza Road looking north on Interstate 75.
	Use Interstate 275 for Port Manatee and the Sunshine Skyway Port Manatee is reached from the first exit of Interstate 275 north, US 41, while the Sunshine Skyway is straight ahead. Also use Interstate 275 north crossing the Sunshine Skyway and through St. Petersburg to reach Tampa International Airport at Exit 39, FL 60 in Tampa.
	Interstate 275 one mile ahead Remain in the right lane for Interstate 275 north to the Sunshine Skyway as well as St. Petersburg and Tampa.
	Final opportunity for Interstate 275 north The overpass carrying Erie Road over Interstate 75 also serves as the overhead sign supports. This is Exit 228 on Interstate 75 and Interstate 275 begins the moment you pass the exit sign. Also notice a Sunshine Skyway motorist advisory sign mounted to the right.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75 Southbound

 

	Northbound Interstate 275 1/4 mile Remain in the right lane (which was formed from the on ramp from Exit 229) to use Interstate 275 north.
	Final opportunity for Interstate 275 north Use the right lane for Interstate 275 north or the left three lanes for Interstate 75 south to Naples. Notice the lack of Exit Only signage for the Interstate 275 exit.