Page Six:  Hillsborough Avenue/US 92 (Exit 47A/B Northbound and Exit 47 Southbound), Sligh Avenue (Exit 48) and Bird Street/Waters Avenue (Exit 49 Northbound)

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Introduction

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exits 47A and 47B

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 47

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 47

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 48

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 48

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 48

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 49

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 49

 

Introduction

Meandering its way through central Tampa is this section of Interstate 275 which was constructed in 1966 and 1967 featuring the next three exits on our northbound journey:  Hillsborough Avenue (US 92), Sligh Avenue and Bird Street.  This segment is six lanes, with three lanes for northbound and three lanes for southbound.

As you will see in the perspective photos for Exit 48 (Sligh Avenue) and Exit 49 (Bird Street/Waters Avenue), you will notice a change in the architectural design of the overpass support piers as the segment of Interstate 275 from a point between Sligh Avenue and the Broad Street overcrossing southward to a point just south of Floribraska Avenue (Exit 46A) was built in 1966.  North of this point between Sligh Avenue and Broad Street is where Interstate 275 was built in 1967 to a point immediately south of Bearss Avenue (Exit 53).

Hillsborough Avenue is a major east-west highway that carries US 92 as well as US 41 just east of the interchange with Interstate 275 for a short segment.  The Hillsborough Avenue interchange features a dual eastbound/westbound exit system for northbound Interstate 275 travelers while southbound Interstate 275 travelers have a single exit for both eastbound and westbound Hillsborough Avenue.

Sligh Avenue is a local street that basically connects Nebraska Avenue (US 41) with Florida Avenue (Business US 41) and beyond.  The Lowry Park Zoo can be reached from this exit and proceeding west on Sligh Avenue past Florida Avenue.

Bird Street is another local side street like its counterpart at Sligh Avenue.  However, the Bird Street interchange is a partial entry and exit which means only southbound traffic may enter and northbound traffic may exit.  The Tampa Greyhound Track can be reached from the Bird Street exit.  Additionally, there is a connector road from the ramps at Bird Street (Lamar Avenue northbound and Seminole Avenue southbound) providing access to Waters Avenue, a regional street that connects the Veterans Expressway with Nebraska Avenue.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exits 47A and 47B

	Advance signage for Hillsborough Avenue It's coming up in 1/2 mile.
	Hillsborough Avenue is just around the corner Notice that this is newer signage mounted on the original 1966 ground posts.
	Overhead signage for Hillsborough Avenue and Sligh Avenue You will notice that there are two Hillsborough Avenue exits, Exits 47A and 47B. Exit 47A takes you onto eastbound Hillsborough Avenue while Exit 47B - just beyond the overpass - takes you onto westbound Hillsborough Avenue.
	Final opportunity for westbound Hillsborough Avenue Beware of the 25 mph loop ramp (which is very sharp) if you exit here.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 47

Advance signage for Hillsborough Avenue coming up in 1/2 mile You will notice that the signage is for US 92 as well as southbound US 41. Just east of Interstate 275 at Nebraska Avenue US 41 multiplexes with US 92 for a few miles, then US 41 turns south at 40th Street. This was probably a holdover from the days when Interstate 75 ended at Interstate 4 and heading south of the Tampa Bay area meant a trip on US 41.

Overhead signage for Hillsborough Avenue Martin Luther King Jr Blvd (Exit 46B) is the next exit represented. Also notice the through signage for Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg, which is much better than the generic "Thru Traffic" signage that used to be here on an older overhead gantry years ago.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 47

	Directly underneath the southbound lanes of Interstate 275 at Hillsborough Avenue Notice the architecture of the overpass piers built in 1966.
	Another underneath view of Interstate 275 at Hillsborough Avenue The southbound lanes are to the right and the northbound lanes are to the left. Notice the 100210 number marked on one of the piers; this is a Florida DOT bridge inventory number that identifies every bridge in the state no matter what it is.
	Eastbound on Hillsborough Avenue going under Interstate 275 Turn left just after going under the highway to go north on Interstate 275 to Ocala (via Interstate 75, of course). Turn right at the traffic signal in the foreground to go south to St. Petersburg.
	Eastbound on Hanna Avenue at Interstate 275 This overcrossing is located north of Hillsborough Avenue and there is no entry or exit. Notice the low 14' 11" vertical clearance marked on the overpass beam. The overpass railings are the original 1966 construction.
	Westbound on Hanna Avenue at Interstate 275 Notice the new overpass railings which were replaced during a concrete rehabilitation project on Interstate 275.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 48

	Advance signage for Sligh Avenue It's coming up in 1/2 mile.
	You can reach the Lowry Park Zoo on Sligh Avenue Simply exit Interstate 275 at Exit 48 and head west for about a mile and a half. The attraction is on your right.
	Final opportunity for Sligh Avenue Bird Street/Waters Avenue (Exit 49) is represented as the next exit on northbound Interstate 275. The signs are new but are mounted on the original 1966 sign gantry.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 48

	Advance signage for Sligh Avenue It's coming up in one mile. Notice the newer gantry the sign is installed on.
	1/2 mile to Sligh Avenue This ground mounted sign was erected as part of the Interstate 275 concrete rehabilitation project.
	Use Sligh Avenue (Exit 48) to reach the Lowry Park Zoo The zoo is about a mile and a half west of Interstate 275 and it will be on your right.
	Final opportunity for Sligh Avenue The next exit represented is Exit 47, US 92/Hillsborough Avenue.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 48

	Eastbound on Sligh Avenue at Interstate 275 This eastbound view was taken from the southbound exit ramp. Notice the architecture of the 1966 overpass piers like we have seen at Hanna and Hillsborough Avenues.
	Westbound on Sligh Avenue at Interstate 275 This westbound view was taken from the northbound exit ramp.
	Signage for Interstate 275 on Sligh Avenue Taken at the intersection of Sligh Avenue and Central Avenue (Tampa's Central Avenue, that is).
	Interstate 275 crossing Broad Street This is another overcrossing of Interstate 275, located north of Sligh Avenue immediately east of Central Avenue. As you will see by looking at the overpass piers, this is the segment of Interstate 275 from a point between Broad Street and Sligh Avenue to just south of Bearss Avenue (Exit 53) built in 1967.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 49

	Advance overhead signage for Bird Street and Waters Avenue Coming up in 1/2 mile! This signage is mounted on a new gantry along with one of the many variable message signs found on Interstate 275 in the Tampa Bay area. The original 1966 signage used to mention only Bird Street.
	Final opportunity for Bird Street and Waters Avenue Exit 50, FL 580/Busch Blvd is the next exit represented on northbound Interstate 275. Notice how the new signage is mounted onto the old 1967 gantry.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 49

 

	Northbound on the Bird Street Off Ramp If you are headed to Bird Street, this is your intersection. If you are headed to Waters Avenue, you will need to continue north; this ramp turns into a one-way street called Lamar Avenue.
	Lamar Avenue at Waters Avenue Lamar Avenue - a one-way street essentially an extension of the off ramp from northbound Interstate 275 - ends here at this mast arm signalized intersection at Waters Avenue. From here you can go west on Waters Avenue to reach the Veterans Expressway.
	Interstate 275 crossing Waters Avenue This is looking westbound on Waters Avenue. Notice the 1967 era overpass supports that carry northbound Interstate 275 traffic.
	Southbound on Seminole Avenue Seminole Avenue - like its counterpart Lamar Avenue - is basically an entrance ramp to southbound Interstate 275 feeding in traffic from Waters Avenue and Bird Street.
	South on Seminole Avenue This is taken just before Bird Street and the entrance to southbound Interstate 275.
	Closeup of the Interstate 275 shield As seen on Seminole Avenue just north of Bird Street.
	Seminole Avenue at Bird Street You can see Interstate 275 to the left. Continuing south from Seminole Avenue will put you onto the entrance ramp for southbound Interstate 275. As this entrance ramp can be a little tricky to find, perhaps the Florida DOT could put up a "Freeway Entrance" sign at the beginning of the ramp like CalTrans (California DOT) does.
	Looking east on Bird Street You can see the intersection for the northbound Interstate 275 exit ramp and Lamar Avenue underneath the two overpasses.
	Another view of the 1967 overpass piers This is where southbound Interstate 275 goes over Bird Street.