I-275 exit ramp won't be closed

In a change of plans, the Florida Department of Transportation will not close the northbound Interstate 275 exit to State Road 60 in Tampa next week.

The DOT had planned to close the exit from 9 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. this coming Monday through Friday to replace expansion joints. But because of the impact on traffic, "We had some of our engineers go out there and revisit to see if maybe we can do the project without shutting down the ramp," said DOT spokeswoman Marian Scorza.

"We're going to postpone it for the time being while we can reassess," Scorza added.

Engineers will check to see if the expansion joints can be repaired instead of replaced; and whether the work can be done without shutting down the whole ramp at one time.

Scorza said the DOT's change of heart was not prompted by any complaints about the proposed shutdown.

Exit 39B takes northbound I-275 drivers toward Tampa International Airport, Memorial Highway and the Veterans Expressway. DOT officials already had planned detour routes.

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