TAMPA, Fla. — Crews are putting the finishing touches on the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard I-75 overpass this weekend, which will transform into a diverging diamond interchange to increase traffic efficiency. The new traffic pattern is expected to open Sunday afternoon, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.
Drivers will drive on MLK Boulevard and cross over from the right side of the road to the left. Traffic will continue on the left side of the overpass and then cross back over to the right side of the roadway. This pattern applies to eastbound and westbound. A diagram can be found below.
The exchange puts the left turn onto I-75 on the driver's side of the road, reducing the amount of traffic lights and giving drivers more access to the interstate, according to the FDOT. It no longer forces drivers to turn left and cross over lanes to get on I-75.
The new pattern will reduce the number of traffic lights down to two.
Before opening on Sunday, all MLK Boulevard travel lanes across I-75 will close. The closure will be between Falkenburg Road and Williams Road from Friday night, July 26, to Sunday afternoon, July 28.
Detour routes will include using US 301, I-4 and Mango Road. Electronic message boards and signs will be posted to help drivers navigate the overpass this weekend.
The $89.7 million project, which was started in August 2021, aims to increase the number of vehicles that can efficiently drive through the overpass with reduced delays and traffic. It also will support pedestrian safety.