Florida: Traffic Changes and Overnight Closures on Tampa’s I-275

Truck drivers traveling through Tampa, Florida, should pay close attention to a recent change on I-275 North, particularly if their routes take them toward SR 60 West, SR 589 North or Tampa International Airport.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) implemented a new traffic pattern at Exit 39 on I-275 North beginning the night of Monday, August 10, 2026.

The change involves more than a temporary lane reduction. The exit to SR 60 West, SR 589 North and Tampa International Airport has been shifted approximately half a mile north of its previous location as part of the Tampa Westshore Interchange Improvements project.

This means drivers who are familiar with the previous exit location will need to watch for the new signage and avoid making last-minute maneuvers as they approach Exit 39.

For truck drivers who do not regularly travel through Tampa, the change is particularly important. Following a route based on previous landmarks or assuming the exit remains in the same location could result in detours and additional travel time.

What changed on I-275 North?

The change specifically affects traffic traveling from I-275 North toward SR 60 West, SR 589 North and Tampa International Airport.

Since August 10, the access point has been located approximately half a mile farther north than the previous exit. FDOT announced the change in advance to alert drivers to the new traffic pattern and noted that implementation was weather-dependent.

The change is part of a much larger project transforming one of the Tampa area’s most important interchanges.

The Tampa’s Westshore Interchange (I-275/SR 60) Safety and Operational Improvements project is currently under construction. The project limits include I-275 from the Howard Frankland Bridge to east of Lois Avenue, as well as SR 60 from I-275 to north of Spruce Street.

According to FDOT, construction began in January 2026, and the first phase has an estimated cost of approximately $653.3 million. The contractor is Superior-Lane Joint Venture.

The overall goal is to reconstruct the interchange, improve safety and operations, and increase roadway capacity in a strategic area of Tampa. Among other improvements, the project includes a major reconstruction of the Westshore Interchange and new connections designed to improve traffic movements between I-275 and SR 60.

New overnight closures beginning Sunday, August 16

The Exit 39 change is not the only traffic impact truck drivers will encounter in the coming days.

On August 14, FDOT released its scheduled lane closures for the week of August 16-22, 2026, and several overnight operations are planned along I-275 in Hillsborough County.

On I-275 from east of the Howard Frankland Bridge to Exit 39, FDOT has scheduled northbound lane closures from Sunday, August 16, through Friday, August 21, nightly between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Work is also scheduled directly at I-275 at Exit 39 (Kennedy Boulevard). FDOT reports closures for Sunday, August 16, and Monday, August 17, from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m., along with additional overnight closures in the area between Sunday, August 16, and Thursday, August 20.

There will also be overnight closures on the I-275 Howard Frankland Bridge, between Hillsborough and Pinellas counties, from Sunday, August 16, through Saturday, August 22, generally between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Drivers traveling through Tampa overnight should therefore allow additional time and check current conditions before entering the corridor.

I-75 and US 301 will also have restrictions

Next week’s traffic impacts will not be limited to I-275.

FDOT has also scheduled lane closures on I-75 from the I-4 interchange to Fowler Avenue from Sunday, August 16, through Friday, August 28, during overnight hours between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

On US 301 under I-75, lane closures are scheduled for the nights of Sunday, August 16, and Thursday, August 20, between 8:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m.

Additional overnight work is also scheduled along other sections of US 301 in Hillsborough County.

For commercial transportation, the combination of work on I-275, I-75 and US 301 makes it especially important to check routes before entering the Tampa metropolitan area, particularly for overnight operations.

Why Westshore is an area to watch

The significance of the change is also tied to the project’s location.

The Westshore Interchange connects major Tampa-area corridors and provides movements between I-275 and SR 60, as well as access toward the airport area.

The comprehensive reconstruction is designed to improve the interchange’s capacity and operations through new roadway configurations. Planned improvements include new lanes and elevated ramps intended to facilitate different traffic movements throughout the system.

For the trucking industry, however, the construction period brings a more immediate concern: changing traffic patterns, overnight closures and modified access points that may continue to change as construction progresses.

That is why it is important to distinguish between two different situations. The relocation of the I-275 North exit toward SR 60 West, SR 589 North and Tampa International Airport is a new traffic pattern that took effect August 10. Lane closures, on the other hand, have specific dates and hours that FDOT updates regularly.

What truck drivers should do

Drivers planning to travel through Tampa should check their route before departure and again before entering the Westshore area, especially when using I-275 North.

It is also important to pay close attention to temporary signage and not rely exclusively on familiar landmarks or previous knowledge of the Exit 39 location.

Drivers traveling overnight between August 16 and August 22 should use extra caution, as FDOT has scheduled multiple restrictions throughout the area. Construction schedules are subject to change due to weather or other operational circumstances.

FDOT recommends using Florida 511 to check real-time traffic conditions before traveling.

For carriers and owner-operators, knowing about these changes in advance can help prevent detours, delivery delays and unexpected maneuvers in an area that will continue undergoing major roadway improvements as reconstruction of the Westshore Interchange moves forward.

To avoid unnecessary problems on the road, always travel insured.