Page Eight:  Fletcher Avenue (Exit 52) and Bearss Avenue (Exit 53)

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Introduction

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 52

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 52

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 52

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 53

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 53

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 53

 

Introduction

The northernmost segments of Interstate 275 from Fletcher Avenue northward were constructed in 1964 and 1967.  The segment from Bearss Avenue northward to today’s junction with Interstate 75 north was constructed in 1964 as a part of the original Interstate 75.  However, according to Justin Cozart’s bayciti.net website (defunct as of 2008) Interstate 75 terminated at Bearss Avenue until the highway was extended to meet with Interstate 4 in 1967.

In 2003 this section of Interstate 275 from Busch Boulevard (where the six lane section used to taper down to four lanes) to north of Bearss Avenue was widened to six lanes, providing for a generally six lane Interstate 275 through Tampa and St. Petersburg with eight lane sections in between.  This had to be done due to the rapid growth in the north Tampa area as well as address capacity improvements.  All overpasses between Busch Boulevard and Bearss Avenue were retrofitted from two original overpasses to one single overpass and capacity improvements at Bearss Avenue were also addressed by having through Bearss Avenue traffic pass between the overpass pier and the overpass abutment on either side while Bearss Avenue traffic headed to Interstate 275 passes between the overpass piers.  Another overpass treatment of this type can be found on Interstate 75 at FL/CR 54 (Exit 279) in Wesley Chapel, a Pasco County community north of the junction of Interstate 275 at Interstate 75.

Fletcher Avenue is a minor east-west road connecting Dale Mabry Highway with Interstate 75; the road name changes to Morris Bridge Road east of Interstate 75.  Fletcher Avenue provides University of South Florida (USF) students with another means to access the main Tampa campus rather than having to drive on congested Fowler Avenue.  You can also reach the Moffitt Cancer Center (located on the USF Tampa campus) as well as the VA Hospital (via Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) and University Community Hospital (on Fletcher Avenue past Bruce B. Downs Blvd. on your left going east).  Fletcher Avenue is maintained by Hillsborough County as a county road.

Bearss Avenue is another minor east-west road connecting Dale Mabry Highway with Bruce B Downs Blvd.; west of Dale Mabry Highway the road name changes from Bearss Avenue to Ehrlich Road providing access to the Veterans Expressway.  Like Fletcher Avenue, Bearss Avenue is a county road maintained by Hillsborough County except for the segment from Nebraska Avenue (US 41) through Interstate 275 to Florida Avenue (Business US 41) which is maintained by the Florida DOT and is signed as FL 678.  As mentioned earlier Interstate 275 (in its early heydays as the original Interstate 75) stopped here just south of Bearss Avenue and traffic headed to or from Downtown Tampa and Interstate 4 had to use either Nebraska Avenue or Florida Avenue until 1967 when the segment of Interstate 275 opened.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 52

	Advance signage for Fletcher Avenue coming up in 3/4 mile Taken on northbound Interstate 275 as we cross Fowler Avenue.
	You can reach the Moffitt Cancer Center and the VA Hospital on Fletcher Avenue The Moffitt Cancer Center is located on the USF campus while the VA Hospital is on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. south of Fletcher Avenue. Both facilities are two miles east of Interstate 275.
	Final opportunity for Fletcher Avenue As you will see, Fletcher Avenue is maintained by Hillsborough County as County Road 582A. Notice the blue H sign mounted on the left edge; University Community Hospital is located on Fletcher Avenue two miles east of Interstate 275 past Bruce B. Downs Blvd. on your left.
	One of the many variable message signs on Interstate 275 Taken on northbound Interstate 275 just north of Fletcher Avenue.

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 52

	Advance signage for Fletcher Avenue coming up in one mile Taken on Interstate 275 south as we cross Bearss Avenue. Notice how the University of South Florida's Tampa campus is signed for Fletcher Avenue rather than Fowler Avenue to the south.
	You can reach the Moffitt Cancer Center and the VA Hospital on Fletcher Avenue The Moffitt Cancer Center is located on the USF campus while the VA Hospital is on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. south of Fletcher Avenue. Both facilities are two miles east of Interstate 275.
	Final opportunity for Fletcher Avenue Fletcher Avenue provides another means of access to the University of South Florida's Tampa campus so that students, faculty and staff don't have to use congested Fowler Avenue.

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 52

	Overhead signage for Interstate 275 south to St. Petersburg This is on eastbound Fletcher Avenue as we approach Interstate 275.
	Eastbound Fletcher Avenue at Interstate 275 Here we see signage for northbound Interstate 275 to Ocala.

Interstate 275 Northbound at Exit 53 

	Advance signage for Bearss Avenue one mile away Taken on northbound Interstate 275 crossing Fletcher Avenue.
	More advance signage for Bearss Avenue Notice that the right lane is a dedicated exit only lane, as Interstate 275 northbound drops from three to two northbound lanes north of Bearss Avenue.
	And more advance signage for Bearss Avenue This advance signage has special significance: This is the last exit on Interstate 275 northbound before Interstate 75. Traveling past this exit will require travel on Interstate 275 to Interstate 75 and Exit 275, FL 56 - about 10 miles north of here. Now you know.
	Final opportunity for Bearss Avenue You have been warned of the 10 mile drive required if you miss this exit. Be grateful that there is no international border past this exit, which is the case in San Ysidro, California with Interstate 5 at the Mexican border (and believe me, there is heavy signage reminding you).

Interstate 275 Southbound at Exit 53

	Advance signage for Bearss Avenue coming up in one mile Bearss Avenue is Interstate 275's first exit for southbound travelers.
	Mileage sign just before Bearss Avenue The next three exits after Bearss Avenue - Fletcher Avenue, Fowler Avenue and Busch Boulevard - are represented.
	Final opportunity for Bearss Avenue Notice that southbound Interstate 275 widens from two to three southbound lanes here and will remain that way to 54 Av S (Exit 17) in St Petersburg except for three breaks in the three lane configuration, one at Interstate 4 (Exit 45B), one at FL 60 (Exit 39) and the other at Interstate 175 (Exit 22).

Perspective of Interstate 275 at Exit 53

	Overhead for Interstate 275 south to St. Petersburg This is looking eastbound on Bearss Avenue.
	Eastbound Bearss Avenue at Interstate 275 Before the widening improvements on Interstate 275 a few years ago, all Bearss Avenue traffic passed between the bridge piers. Today, those headed to Interstate 275 passes between the bridge piers, while through traffic on Bearss Avenue passes between the bridge pier and the abutment (eastbound Bearss Avenue through traffic uses the space to the right). That was a cost saving measure rather than build a completely new overpass which would cost more money.
	The US 41 and Business US 41 split Located in Lutz, this is where US 41 (Nebraska Avenue) and Business US 41 (Florida Avenue) splits for the trip through Tampa. South of this split Interstate 275 joins in for the journey between Nebraska and Florida Avenues into Tampa. US 41 basically bypasses Tampa while Business US 41 goes into Downtown Tampa.