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Interstate 375 (Florida)
Encyclopedia
Interstate 375 in St. Petersburg, Florida
, also known as North Bay Drive, is a 1.34-mile-long spur route from Interstate 275
into downtown. It is also designated as the unsigned State Road 592. There is a sibling segment of freeway nearby that is designated I-175
.
, I-375 lacks exit numbers.
rail line towards a proposed toll road near Clearwater. When I-75 was relocated in the late 1970s/early 1980s, five miles (8 km) of additional interstate became available, thus the St. Pete feeder sections of I-375 and the neighboring I-175 were upgraded to Interstate status. However, the Interstate Highway standards at the time would not allow the 375 extension to receive Federal Interstate Highway funding, leaving only the section east of I-275 built to freeway standards.
It is because of the cancellation of the rest of Interstate 375 that US 19 north of Gandy Boulevard
and south of the Pinellas-Pasco line, is being upgraded to freeway standards.
Contrary to popular belief, the ramp stub at the I-375 interchange was not a result of the failed freeway extension. A connection to 20th St N was originally planned from this stub. However, the 20th St N and 5th Ave N Intersection was already convoluted prior to I-275's construction and the Florida Department of Transportation
decided not to build the connection as a result. The planned freeway extension of I-375 was canceled by officials at the Department of Transportation in the mid 1970s. Otherwise, the I-275/I-375 interchange might have had been constructed differently, with several more ramps than it has today.
On March 27, 2007, a tanker
entering I-375 east from I-275 south lost control and hit the retaining wall
, catching fire and burning for several hours. The resulting fire became so intense, that it severely damaged a large section off the I-375 overpass
from southbound I-275. Intense flames also fell to a city-owned (St. Petersburg
) construction equipment yard and destroyed 8 to 10 city vehicles, causing an estimated $500,000 in damage to the yard. The fire also spread to St. Pete's stormwater system
, blowing off manhole
covers within the vicinity. One St. Petersburg police officer was injured as a result of one being stuck by of those manhole covers.
In the end, the driver of the tanker died on-scene due to the fire. The I-375 overpass remained closed for almost four weeks while Florida Department of Transportation
rebuilt the damaged sections of the bridge. Tampa Bay Interstates reports that all work was finished on April 21, 2007. Reconstruction of the I-375 overpass included the rebuilding of one entire span, plus 11 concrete beams. In addition, one of the support columns underwent significant repairs to ensure its strength in supporting the roadway. The fly-over reopened to traffic on the morning of April 22, 2007, (about one week ahead of schedule). The St Petersburg Times has reported that the FDOT will place signs along I-275 south, indicating the left exit onto I-375.
, Pinellas County
.
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, also known as North Bay Drive, is a 1.34-mile-long spur route from Interstate 275
Interstate 275 (Florida)
Interstate 275 in Florida serves the Tampa Bay metropolitan area, measuring 60.696 miles in length. The southern terminus is I-75 near Palmetto, just five miles east of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, a toll bridge crossing Tampa Bay. The highway passes through St...
into downtown. It is also designated as the unsigned State Road 592. There is a sibling segment of freeway nearby that is designated I-175
Interstate 175 (Florida)
Interstate 175 in St. Petersburg, Florida, also known as South Bay Drive, is a 1.44-mile-long spur route from Interstate 275 into downtown. It is also designated as the unsigned State Road 594...
.
Route description
Interstate 375 begins at an interchange with Interstate 275 (exit 23), heading east towards downtown St. Petersburg, with interchanges with 8th Street North/9th Street North, before ending at 4th Avenue North west of 4th Street North. Westbound I-375 begins with a split of 5th Avenue North west of 4th Street North with no exits until reaching I-275. Along with its sister highway I-175Interstate 175 (Florida)
Interstate 175 in St. Petersburg, Florida, also known as South Bay Drive, is a 1.44-mile-long spur route from Interstate 275 into downtown. It is also designated as the unsigned State Road 594...
, I-375 lacks exit numbers.
Original aspirations
Interstate 375 was originally planned as a much longer, state highway, extending west of Interstate 275 and following a CSXCSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
rail line towards a proposed toll road near Clearwater. When I-75 was relocated in the late 1970s/early 1980s, five miles (8 km) of additional interstate became available, thus the St. Pete feeder sections of I-375 and the neighboring I-175 were upgraded to Interstate status. However, the Interstate Highway standards at the time would not allow the 375 extension to receive Federal Interstate Highway funding, leaving only the section east of I-275 built to freeway standards.
It is because of the cancellation of the rest of Interstate 375 that US 19 north of Gandy Boulevard
State Road 694 (Florida)
State Road 694 is an east–west route in Pinellas County originally running east from Indian Shores, through Seminole and into Pinellas Park; it now begins in Pinellas Park at 66th Street N, with the former road to the west becoming Pinellas County Road 694. It then turns to the northeast as...
and south of the Pinellas-Pasco line, is being upgraded to freeway standards.
Contrary to popular belief, the ramp stub at the I-375 interchange was not a result of the failed freeway extension. A connection to 20th St N was originally planned from this stub. However, the 20th St N and 5th Ave N Intersection was already convoluted prior to I-275's construction and the Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
decided not to build the connection as a result. The planned freeway extension of I-375 was canceled by officials at the Department of Transportation in the mid 1970s. Otherwise, the I-275/I-375 interchange might have had been constructed differently, with several more ramps than it has today.
2007 Tanker Incident
Tank truck
A tank truck or road tanker is a motor vehicle designed to carry liquefied loads, dry bulk cargo or gases on roads. The largest such vehicles are similar to railroad tank cars which are also designed to carry liquefied loads...
entering I-375 east from I-275 south lost control and hit the retaining wall
Retaining wall
Retaining walls are built in order to hold back earth which would otherwise move downwards. Their purpose is to stabilize slopes and provide useful areas at different elevations, e.g...
, catching fire and burning for several hours. The resulting fire became so intense, that it severely damaged a large section off the I-375 overpass
Overpass
An overpass is a bridge, road, railway or similar structure that crosses over another road or railway...
from southbound I-275. Intense flames also fell to a city-owned (St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
) construction equipment yard and destroyed 8 to 10 city vehicles, causing an estimated $500,000 in damage to the yard. The fire also spread to St. Pete's stormwater system
Storm drain
A storm drain, storm sewer , stormwater drain or drainage well system or simply a drain or drain system is designed to drain excess rain and ground water from paved streets, parking lots, sidewalks, and roofs. Storm drains vary in design from small residential dry wells to large municipal systems...
, blowing off manhole
Manhole
A manhole is an opening used to gain access to sewers or other underground structures, usually for maintenance.Manhole may also refer to:* Manhole , a metal band from Los Angeles* The Manhole, a computer game...
covers within the vicinity. One St. Petersburg police officer was injured as a result of one being stuck by of those manhole covers.
In the end, the driver of the tanker died on-scene due to the fire. The I-375 overpass remained closed for almost four weeks while Florida Department of Transportation
Florida Department of Transportation
The Florida Department of Transportation is a decentralized agency charged with the establishment, maintenance, and regulation of public transportation in the state of Florida. The department was formed in 1969. It absorbed the powers of the Florida State Road Department...
rebuilt the damaged sections of the bridge. Tampa Bay Interstates reports that all work was finished on April 21, 2007. Reconstruction of the I-375 overpass included the rebuilding of one entire span, plus 11 concrete beams. In addition, one of the support columns underwent significant repairs to ensure its strength in supporting the roadway. The fly-over reopened to traffic on the morning of April 22, 2007, (about one week ahead of schedule). The St Petersburg Times has reported that the FDOT will place signs along I-275 south, indicating the left exit onto I-375.
Exit list
The entire route is in St. PetersburgSt. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
, Pinellas County
Pinellas County, Florida
Pinellas County is a county located in the state of Florida. Its county seat is Clearwater, Florida, and its largest city is St. Petersburg. This county is contained entirely within the telephone area code 727, except for some sections of Oldsmar, which have the area code 813...
.
| Mile | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.000 | Westbound exit and eastbound entrance | |
| 1.001 | 8th Street North, 9th Street North | Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
| 1.190 |  4th Street North to US 92 |
Eastbound exit and westbound entrance |
Tanker Incident
- Tanker explosion shuts down I-375 overpass indefinitely Bay News 9Bay News 9Bay News 9 is a cable news television network located in St Petersburg, Florida. It currently serves the Tampa Bay Area including Hillsborough, Pinellas, Manatee, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, and Citrus counties...
- 3/29/07 - Grand Prix Fans Must Take Alternate Route TBO.com - 3/29/07
- Deadly tanker explosion in St. Pete WFTS - 3/29/07
- Fatal tanker truck fire closes I-375 in St. Pete WTSPWTSPWTSP is a CBS-affiliated television station in St. Petersburg, Florida . It broadcasts its digital signal on VHF channel 10....
- 3/29/07 - Widespread damage from crash, explosions WTVTWTVTWTVT, channel 13, is a television station in Tampa, Florida. It is an owned and operated station of the Fox Broadcasting Company, a subsidiary of the News Corporation...
- 3/29/07 - Highway not repairable WTVT - 3/29/07
- Scorched highway must be replaced WTVT - 3/29/07
- Crashed tanker unleashes blaze St. Petersburg TimesSt. Petersburg TimesThe St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
- 3/29/07 - FDOT: Overpass will have to be demolished Bay News 9 - 3/30/07