This is north of Bearss Avenue on Interstate 275. Notice that the speed limit changes to 70 mph which will be the speed limit on Interstate 75 all the way to the Georgia border and beyond; the next indication of a speed limit reduction is in Macon just as you pass the exit for Interstate 475.

All three destinations are on Interstate 75 north. We'll see Gainesville as an intermittent control city later on Interstate 75. But two things puzzle me: Why is FL 54 rather than FL 56 (the closest exit) signed and since when did Gainesville get signed as a control city? I thought the control city was Ocala. After all, Ocala is 80 miles ahead and Gainesville is 117 miles away on Interstate 75 north.

This overpass was constructed in 1964 as part of the original Interstate 75. However, Livingston Avenue is heavily traveled on a daily basis and I think this is a great candidate for a major upgrade from an overcrossing to a full interchange.

Just to let you know that you are still on northbound Interstate 275. But that won't be for long, as Interstate 75 north will be joining us shortly.

This is looking north as we get ready to cross over and eventually join Interstate 75 north. This overpass was built in 1982 when Interstate 75 was brought further south towards Naples and Ft. Lauderdale/Miami via the Alligator Alley.

As mentioned earlier, this overpass was built in 1982 when Interstate 75 was brought further south towards Naples and Ft. Lauderdale/Miami via the Alligator Alley. The northern end of Interstate 275 is just around the corner.

This is looking north on Interstate 275 as we get ready to hand things over to Interstate 75 north and leave Interstate 275 behind. County Line Road marks the border between Hillsborough and Pasco Counties; beyond County Line Road is Pasco County soil. The overcrossing was built in 1982 along with the southward expansion of Interstate 75.

This is it - we bid adieu to Interstate 275 in Florida and join Interstate 75 north. The next incarnation of Interstate 275 won't be until Knoxville, TN - that's a long ways away from here.

This is seen from Interstate 75 north.

Interstate 75's first exit - directly from Interstate 275

Advance signage for Interstate 75's Exit 275, FL 56.  FL 56 takes motorists via FL 54 west to Land O' Lakes and Tarpon Springs in northern Pinellas county.  Notice the space to the left of the sign on the full length gantry for a future variable message sign.

Second reminder for FL 56 from Interstate 275

Be in the right lane if you want to exit onto FL 56 - you will exit directly from Interstate 275 rather than merging onto Interstate 75 for a short distance, like you used to previously.

You can reach New Port Richey via FL 56

Simply head west on FL 56 which runs into FL 54 and proceed about 30 miles west to US 19.  New Port Richey, along with its partner Port Richey, is located on US 19 north of FL 54.

Final opportunity for FL 56

This is where you now must exit for FL 56 from Interstate 275 north.  Miss this exit and you will have to go on to the next exit, which is Exit 279, Pasco CR 54, on northbound Interstate 75.  This new ramp opened in August 2011.

Point of exit for FL 56

This is looking north at the beginning of the new ramp to FL 56.  Now what makes this potentially confusing is the exit number, Exit 275 as this is an Interstate 75 exit number.  Perhaps the Florida DOT should have assigned an Interstate 275 exit number (such as Exit 59 as this is the northern terminus of 59-mile long Interstate 275 in the Tampa Bay area) rather than use something potentially confusing.

On the new FL 56 ramp from Interstate 275 north

Notice that traffic from Interstate 75 joins from the right in order to form two lanes.

Separating exiting from through traffic

A concrete Jersey barrier wall separates the ramp to FL 56 from through traffic headed north on Interstate 75.  The County Line Road overpass (which separates Hillsborough from Pasco Counties) is in the background and the ramp design did not have to call for having to construct a widened overpass to accommodate the extra lanes.

Just a little more to go to FL 56

In the background to the left is signage for through traffic that signifies the northern terminus of Interstate 275 in the Tampa Bay area.

On the straightaway to FL 56

You will notice that the new improvements eliminated a merging hazard where traffic from northbound Interstate 275 was dumped onto northbound Interstate 75 for a short distance between the Interstate 275 northern terminus and FL 56. 

I believe this was placed there for a good reason: First, to let motorists know that Interstate 275 is the next exit after FL 56; second, the exit number for FL 56 - Exit 275 - is a confusion breeder. Perhaps the Florida DOT should consider numbering FL 56 at Interstate 75 as Exit 276 and Interstate 275 as Exit 275; that would help eliminate confusion here.

Notice the airplane symbol to the right of the word "Tampa"; this means that those headed to Tampa International Airport should use Interstate 275 south.

You will want to use Interstate 75 south to the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway exit (Exit 256), then west on the Crosstown (use the local lanes) to the 22nd Street exit. I believe the Florida DOT put this sign up to discourage trucks headed to the Port of Tampa from using Interstate 275.

Be in the right or right-center lane in order to enter Interstate 275 south.

In the right lanes, that is. This is overhead signage for Interstate 275 south to Tampa, Tampa International Airport and St. Petersburg. Also notice the next control city for Interstate 75 south being Naples.

This is County Line Road as is crosses both Interstate 75 and Interstate 275. County Line Road forms the border between Hillsborough and Pasco Counties; just beyond the overcrossing is Hillsborough County soil.

Interstate 275's first exit southbound, Bearss Avenue (Exit 53), is 6 miles ahead. Tampa (Downtown Tampa) is 15 miles ahead and St. Petersburg is 34 miles away. But if you're headed to St. Petersburg, you got to go through Tampa and cross the Howard Frankland Bridge first!

This is southbound on Interstate 275 just before we cross US 41 and our first exit southbound, Bearss Avenue (Exit 53). This overcrossing was built in 1964 as part of the original Interstate 75; with Livingston Avenue heavily traveled it is a great candidate for an upgrade to a full interchange.

This is looking north on Interstate 75. If you want to go to southbound Interstate 275 from here, you will have to turn around at FL 56 (Exit 275), the next exit.

This is also looking north on Interstate 75. This is also the approximate location of the original Interstate 75 lanes when it was built in 1964; when Interstate 75 was extended in 1982 the original lanes were shifted over to the overpass (described in the last photograph) which is the case today being Interstate 275.

This is looking south on Interstate 75. If you miss Interstate 275 south by mistake, drive on to the next exit which will be Bruce B Downs Blvd (Exit 270). Head south on Bruce B Downs to Bearss Avenue and then head west on Bearss Avenue; cross the CSX Railroad tracks and US 41 (Nebraska Avenue) and Interstate 275 will be in front of you. Enter Interstate 275 at Bearss Avenue and things should be a snap.

This is looking north on US 41. You can see the CSX Railroad tracks to the right. Notice how high the overpass is compared to Busch Blvd (Exit 50)

This is looking south on US 41 (Nebraska Avenue). There is no direct access to Interstate 275 from here; you must enter Interstate 275 at Bearss Avenue.

Advance signage for the newly relocated Exit 275, FL 56

Advance signage for Interstate 75's Exit 275, FL 56.  FL 56 takes motorists via FL 54 west to Land O' Lakes and Tarpon Springs in northern Pinellas county.  Like its counterpart on northbound Interstate 275, notice the space to the left of the sign on the full length gantry for a future variable message sign.

Second reminder for FL 56 (Exit 275) from Interstate 75

Be in the right lane if you want to exit onto FL 56 - you will exit right before the overpass for northbound Interstate 275 instead of after, like you used to previously.

You can reach New Port Richey via FL 56 (Exit 275)

Simply head west on FL 56 which runs into FL 54 and proceed about 30 miles west to US 19.  New Port Richey, along with its partner Port Richey, is located on US 19 north of FL 54.  The signage is identical to that on northbound Interstate 275.

Final opportunity for FL 56 (Exit 275)

This is where you now must exit for FL 56 from Interstate 75 north.  Miss this exit and you will have to go on to the next exit, which is Exit 279, Pasco CR 54, on northbound Interstate 75.  This new ramp opened in August 2011.

Point of Exit for FL 56 (Exit 275)

This is looking north at the beginning of the new ramp to FL 56.  As you can see, if you want to exit onto FL 56 from Interstate 75 you must now exit here rather than after the overpasses like you used to do.

Headed northbound on Interstate 75

In the background to the left is signage for through traffic coming from northbound Interstate 275 that signifies the northern terminus of Interstate 275 in the Tampa Bay area.

Where the FL 56 ramp (Exit 275) used to be

Just north of the covered up gantry sign (which I believe is a right lane ends sign for when the northbound Interstate 75 mainline is brought to its new configuration) is where you used to exit for FL 56 whether you came northbound on Interstates 75 or 275.  Now a Jersey barrier wall separates through traffic from exiting traffic eliminating dangerous merging maneuevers.