Page Seven:
Busch Boulevard/FL 580 (Exit 50) and Fowler Avenue/FL 582 (Exit 51)
On this
page:
Introduction
Interstate 275 Northbound at
Exit 50
Interstate 275 Southbound at
Exit 50
Perspective of Interstate 275
at Exit 50
Interstate 275 Northbound at
Exit 51
Interstate 275 Southbound at
Exit 51
Perspective of Interstate 275
at Exit 51
Introduction
Making its journey through
central and northern Tampa is the next segment of Interstate 275
originally constructed in 1967 featuring exits at Busch Boulevard
and Fowler Avenue. The original 1967 construction was six lanes
south of Busch Boulevard and four lanes north of Busch Boulevard.
Construction to widen the four lane segment north of Busch
Boulevard to six lanes began in 1999 and completed in 2002; this
was desperately needed to accommodate the rapid growth of the area
north of Tampa as the original four lanes were inadequate for
today’s standards.
Busch Boulevard is an east-west
highway carrying FL 580 from Dale Mabry Highway to Temple
Terrace. One of the Tampa Bay area’s major attractions,
Busch
Gardens, can be reached at this exit. It is believed
that this exit would be situated at Yukon Street rather than
Busch Blvd., which is why the overcrossing on Yukon Street is
wide enough to accommodate a divided highway with four lanes of
traffic.
Of particular interest is
the way the interchange is designed than the rest of the
Interstate 275 interchanges throughout Tampa; the overpass bridge
is higher than the others as it crosses an active CSX railroad
track servicing Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Many years ago
Amtrak used to operate passenger service on this track to
Clearwater and St. Petersburg but service was discontinued in 1984
and has been replaced by bus service to the Amtrak station at
Tampa’s Union Station; I remember this from many years ago when I
used to ride the train from St. Petersburg to Tampa and vice versa
during my younger years (this was before getting my first driver’s
license, of course!). The ramp from Interstate 275 northbound to
Busch Boulevard is a sharp turn to the right, hence the 25 mph
advisory signage.
Fowler Avenue is another
east-west highway carrying FL 582 from Florida Avenue (Business US
41) to Interstate 75 and US 301 just east of Temple Terrace. The
University of South Florida’s (USF) main Tampa campus is reached at
this exit as well as the Museum of
Science and Industry located across the street from USF and the
Sun Dome located on USF's
main Tampa campus. Fowler Avenue was originally four lanes but was
expended to eight lanes to accommodate the rapid growth the
immediate area has seen over the years.
Interstate 275 Northbound at
Exit 50
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Advance mileage signage for Busch Boulevard, Fowler Avenue and Fletcher Avenue
Taken on Interstate 275 north just before approaching Exit 47 (Sligh Avenue). |
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Busch Gardens is reached at Exit 50
Simply exit Interstate 275 and proceed east on Busch Boulevard for about two miles; the theme park will be on your left. Parking for Busch Gardens is available in the lots east of McKinley Drive (a tram takes you from the lots through an underground tunnel to Busch Gardens' main entrance). |
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Advance signage for Busch Boulevard
Notice that the right lane used to be a dedicated exit only lane before reconstruction of Interstate 275 north of Busch Boulevard made the right lane a through lane. |
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Final opportunity for Busch Boulevard
Notice the reduced speed 25 mph advisory on the bottom of the sign (the yellow background) due to the design of the exit ramp, like the off ramp at Exit 47B (westbound Hillsborough Avenue). Believe me, that ramp is
indeed sharp! |
Interstate 275 Southbound at
Exit 50
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Advance signage for Busch Boulevard
Just around the corner in 3/4 of a mile. Notice the new Exit 50 tab on the top of the sign and the Old 33 sign mounted to the right; this used to be Exit 33 under the sequential exit numbering system. |
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Signage for Busch Gardens and the Tampa Greyhound Track
Both attractions are reached by exiting Interstate 275 and heading east on Busch Boulevard. To reach Busch Gardens, continue east on Busch Boulevard for about two miles; the theme park will be on your left. To reach the Tampa Greyhound Track, from Busch Boulevard take a right on Nebraska Avenue (US 41) and go south to Waters Avenue; the dog track will be on your right. |
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Final opportunity for Busch Boulevard
The off ramp to Busch Boulevard from southbound Interstate 275 isn't that sharp, but still reduce your speed when exiting. |
Perspective of Interstate
275 at Exit 50
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Advance signage for Interstate 275 from Busch Boulevard
If you are headed to St. Petersburg, take a left at the upcoming traffic signal before the overpass. If you are headed to Ocala, take a left at the second traffic signal after the overpass. This is taken on eastbound Busch Boulevard. |
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Interstate 275 at Busch Boulevard
Taken on Busch Boulevard looking east. You will notice why this overpass is higher; this is due to the active CSX Railroad track to the right. Due to the railroad track, all the entrance and exit ramps for Interstate 275 are on the north side of Busch Boulevard. |
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Closeup of Interstate 275 at Busch Boulevard
I took this to show you a closeup view of why this overpass is higher than the rest of the overpasses on Interstate 275 going through Tampa. The CSX Railroad track is to the right; today it carries freight traffic to Clearwater and St. Petersburg. Again this is looking east on Busch Boulevard. |
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Yukon Street overcrossing at Interstate 275
This overcrossing is located just south of Busch Boulevard. If you are wondering why there is room for a four lane highway, when Interstate 275 was built it was presumed that Yukon Street would be a full service interchange. Just as Busch Gardens was being built it was agreed to move the interchange from Yukon Street to Busch Boulevard. |
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Linebaugh Avenue overcrossing at Interstate 275
Located north of Busch Boulevard, Linebaugh Avenue is a major east-west roadway running from the communities west of the Veterans Expressway to Nebraska Avenue. This is looking east on Linebaugh Avenue as we go under Interstate 275.
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Bougainvillea Avenue Overcrossing at Interstate 275
Located north of the Linebaugh Avenue overcrossing and south of Fowler Avenue, Bougainvillea Avenue is a minor side street. This picture is taken on Bougainvillea Avenue looking east. |
Interstate 275 Northbound at
Exit 51
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Advance signage for Fowler Avenue coming up in 3/4 mile
Use Fowler Avenue to reach the University of South Florida's (USF) main Tampa campus. USF is about two miles on your left after you exit. |
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You can reach the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI) here at Fowler Avenue
MOSI is located on Fowler Avenue about 2-1/2 miles east of Interstate 275 and is located across the street from the USF campus; you will see a pedestrian bridge over Fowler Avenue that connects USF with MOSI. |
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Final opportunity for Fowler Avenue
If you are headed for USF's Tampa campus and you miss Fowler Avenue by mistake, don't worry - you can reach USF from the next exit, Fletcher Avenue (Exit 52). |
Interstate 275 Southbound at
Exit 51
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Advance signage for Fowler Avenue
Taken as we cross Fletcher Avenue. Instead of USF's Tampa campus, signage for Fowler Avenue on Interstate 275 southbound carries the Temple Terrace legend. After all, southbound Interstate 275 motorists headed to USF can use Fletcher Avenue (Exit 52) and go east for about two miles. |
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You can reach the Museum of Science and Industry
(MOSI) from Fowler Avenue
MOSI is located on Fowler Avenue about 2-1/2 miles east of Interstate 275 and is located across the street from the USF campus; you will see a pedestrian bridge over Fowler Avenue that connects USF with MOSI. |
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Final opportunity for Fowler Avenue
As mentioned earlier, southbound Interstate 275 motorists have the Temple Terrace legend rather than USF's Tampa campus. |
Perspective of Interstate
275 at Exit 51
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Westbound on Fowler Avenue at Interstate 275
Taken from the Fowler Avenue off ramp from northbound Interstate 275. |
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Eastbound on Fowler Avenue
Notice the signage for Interstate 275 south to St. Petersburg.
After all, this is Tampa. |
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Signage pointing the way to eastbound Fowler Avenue (FL 582) and Interstate 275
Taken on northbound Florida Avenue (Business US 41) at the intersection of Florida Avenue and Fowler Avenue. This is the western terminus of FL 582 in Tampa; an extant section of FL 582 exists in Tarpon Springs from US 19 to Alternate US 19. |
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Another view of westbound Fowler Avenue
Notice the signage for Interstate 275 north to Ocala (via Interstate 75, of course!). |
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127th Street Overcrossing on Interstate 275
Located north of Fowler Avenue, 127th Street is another side street. An elementary school is located to the right (not pictured) as we look eastbound on 127th Street. |
