TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) – Significant progress is being made on a major infrastructure initiative in the area, the comprehensive revamp of the Westshore Interchange.

Zachary Stringer from the Florida Department of Transportation highlighted the daily traffic jams plaguing the interstate at this location.

This project is considered crucial for the region as it affects commuters from neighboring counties, facilitating access to the airport and connecting roads to various destinations.

“We handle hundreds of thousands of vehicles each day, resulting in considerable congestion,” Stringer explained.

The initial phase of the project is concentrated on I-275, specifically east of the Howard Frankland Bridge, and the eastern section of State Road 60.

“Drivers will be able to make decisions about which road they want to get on at the interchange earlier, so it’ll create a smoother, more efficient, safe interchange once complete,” Stringer said.

The work has been on F-DOT’s radar for more than a decade.

“Delaying a project like this would cost more money in the future to build and become more complex. We have to build it now because demand requires us to build it,” Stringer said.

As construction ramps up in the coming years, department leaders ask everyone to be aware of workers in the area.

“We understand that a project like this causes temporary inconvenience for the drivers. We do ask that, as drivers come through, they take a second and slow down, raise their awareness. Those few seconds could make a huge difference in getting everyone home safely,” Stringer said.

As of Wednesday, closures were in place northbound on West Frontage Road, as well as East Frontage Road from Cypress Street to Lemon Street. Stringer expects work to wrap up in 2030.