Drivers in downtown Tampa should brace for significant traffic delays this weekend, as announced by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

FDOT will shut down all northbound lanes of Interstate 275 and keep only one southbound lane open starting at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 4.

The planned closure will persist until 5 a.m. on Monday, October 6, to allow crews to install the last four steel girders for a new bridge connecting southbound I-275 to eastbound I-4.

Delivery driver Charles Howell said the closure will test drivers’ patience.

“There’s a bunch of ways to get down here but like if you’re cutting out the main supply then what are we going to do,” Howell said.

FDOT senior construction project manager Andrew Williams said the girders are critical to the project’s next phase.

Williams explained, “The girders are crucial components of the superstructure supporting the deck — the surface that vehicles travel on. Two of these girders need to be placed over northbound 275, making it unsafe to conduct this work with traffic passing below.”

With lanes reduced, Williams warns congestion will be heavier than usual.

“We do expect to have a lot of congestion, definitely a lot more than you typically see on a Saturday or Sunday,” he said.

For some drivers, backups are already frustrating.

“What usually takes two minutes might now take twenty,” remarked motorist Tyler Winkler. “It’s only going to get worse. We’re always constructing something new downtown, so the traffic situation is just going to be even more difficult to handle.”

This weekend’s construction is part of FDOT’s $227 million Downtown Interchange Project, which aims to enhance safety, offer more community features, and alleviate traffic congestion by 2027.

Williams said the weekend was carefully chosen to limit disruptions.

“This weekend is one of the few without a Bucs or Lightning game, and no major events are scheduled in the area,” he noted. “We planned this with precision and have been preparing for months to choose this specific weekend.”

Still, Howell said drivers may need to come prepared.

“I guess you just got to be prepared, bring snacks with you if you’re willing to drive a mile. You know, it’s going to be forever,” he said.

What are the detours?

FDOT has outlined several detour routes for motorists during the closure:

• Northbound I-275: Drivers should continue south to Exit 45A and use the temporary ramp to re-enter southbound I-275.
• Southbound I-275 needing Downtown East-West access (Exit 45A): Exit at 46A, turn right on Floribraska Avenue, left on Tampa Street, and continue south to downtown streets.
• Southbound I-275 to eastbound I-4: The ramp will remain open all weekend.
• Westbound I-4 to southbound I-275/Downtown Tampa (Saturday, Oct. 4, 5 a.m.–10 p.m.): Proceed onto the northbound I-275 entrance ramp, exit at 46B, turn left onto Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, left on Tampa Street, and continue south to access I-275 southbound or downtown.

FDOT also said electronic message boards and temporary signs will help guide drivers.