I-275: How do you stand it?? (Tampa, Gandy: real estate, hotel, houses)

[kmarc]

I just recently had to travel to St. Pete from North Central Florida and back. I had to take I-275 from 75 over the Howard Frankland to St. Pete and then reverse.

I lived in the Tampa Bay area from 2000 to 2017. I didn't travel that road often, but I did travel it on occasion and I don't remember it being this much of a horror, both ways. I felt as if I was playing Rollerball. And neither leg was during rush hour.

And how do people even live in St. Pete near the interstate without those earmuffs they use at shooting ranges? Many people do the Frankland crossing every day. I couldn't even imagine it.

[HWTechGuy]

I hate 275 through Tampa and the whole I-4 connection. I avoid at all costs. I am all about Gandy and the Selmon if I need to go between St. Pete and the I-75 or US-301 areas. I only take 275 over the Howard Frankland if I am coming down or going back via FL-589.

[kmarc]

Originally Posted by HWTechGuy

I hate 275 through Tampa and the whole I-4 connection. I avoid at all costs. I am all about Gandy and the Selmon if I need to go between St. Pete and the I-75 or US-301 areas. I only take 275 over the Howard Frankland if I am coming down or going back via FL-589.

This was the first time I did the entire stretch from I-75 to the Lealman area of St Pete and reverse. And I was the passenger! If I was the one doing the actual driving I would have pulled off somewhere, curled up in a fetal position and started sobbing. Thank heavens the driver was excellent and took everything in stride. I should probably have worn a blindfold.

I used to drive stretches of it when I lived there, and of course I white-knuckled it over the Skyway on occasion (I hate bridges) but honestly, I used to be able to cope with it just fine. I don't mean to sound like a snowflake, but it seems pretty bad to me.

[bobisinthehouse]

The speed is 50 MPH in Tampa I-275. There are drivers, speeding way over, must be doing 65 or 75.

The Police " Tampa Police and State Troopers" need to pull over every person speeding.

Give them a high fine of 800 Dollars. Pay it or you go to jail for 1 year.

[floridarebel]

Originally Posted by bobisinthehouse

The speed is 50 MPH in Tampa I-275. There are drivers, speeding way over, must be doing 65 or 75.

The Police " Tampa Police and State Troopers" need to pull over every person speeding.

Give them a high fine of 800 Dollars. Pay it or you go to jail for 1 year.

Need to raise speed limit. They're too low.

[kmarc]

It seemed like there were lots of angry, aggressive drivers. As to St. Pete, when we were at dinner, quite a few elderly diners. I suppose a number were snow birds, but I have no idea how they navigate the roadways there. It doesn't seem like a good environment for older folks, although at one time it may have been. At the hotel, we were warned not to stray to far from the entrance at night and not to spend too much time in the parking lot unloading the car. The surrounding neighborhoods looked OK, with small, old houses with neatly kept yards and such. The traffic on the main thoroughfares was pretty bad, though.

It's weird to have been away from an area for a while and then come back and see what appears to be an explosion in traffic and population. It reminded me of how it was just before the bursting of real estate bubble 1.0, lots of aggressive people to-ing and fro-ing looking for a place to land. We used to say "They're on the move, they're on the march!"

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by kmarc

It seemed like there were lots of angry, aggressive drivers. As to St. Pete, when we were at dinner, quite a few elderly diners. I suppose a number were snow birds, but I have no idea how they navigate the roadways there. It doesn't seem like a good environment for older folks, although at one time it may have been. At the hotel, we were warned not to stray to far from the entrance at night and not to spend too much time in the parking lot unloading the car. The surrounding neighborhoods looked OK, with small, old houses with neatly kept yards and such. The traffic on the main thoroughfares was pretty bad, though.

It's weird to have been away from an area for a while and then come back and see what appears to be an explosion in traffic and population. It reminded me of how it was just before the bursting of real estate bubble 1.0, lots of aggressive people to-ing and fro-ing looking for a place to land. We used to say "They're on the move, they're on the march!"

It's been bad since the 60's.

[MortonR]

Originally Posted by kmarc

It seemed like there were lots of angry, aggressive drivers. As to St. Pete, when we were at dinner, quite a few elderly diners. I suppose a number were snow birds, but I have no idea how they navigate the roadways there. It doesn't seem like a good environment for older folks, although at one time it may have been. At the hotel, we were warned not to stray to far from the entrance at night and not to spend too much time in the parking lot unloading the car. The surrounding neighborhoods looked OK, with small, old houses with neatly kept yards and such. The traffic on the main thoroughfares was pretty bad, though.

Ha! You haven't driven on US 19 in Pasco this time of year, have you? It's populated with Crown Vics and other such land yachts driven by blue hairs and old codgers who can often barely see over the steering wheel. Go to just about any restaurant between 4:30 and 6:00 and wait in line for the "Early Bird Special".

If you're closer to NPR there's some guy in a Corvette who is really a problem.

RM

[LKJ1988]

Originally Posted by MortonR

Ha! You haven't driven on US 19 in Pasco this time of year, have you? It's populated with Crown Vics and other such land yachts driven by blue hairs and old codgers who can often barely see over the steering wheel. Go to just about any restaurant between 4:30 and 6:00 and wait in line for the "Early Bird Special".

If you're closer to NPR there's some guy in a Corvette who is really a problem.

RM

But i am not driving slow. Once in a while can do a wot burst to 90 on US19. Seems these red necks in trucks like getting a beat down. I give em 500ft and roll into the power US19 is nothing but red lights every 200 ft in my area.

[Quentin RD]

Everyone complains about traffic and 275, 75, 19, Gandy, 589, Eisenhower, you name it. There are also idiots who get whacked out about driving over the Skyway and wont drive over 50 and stick in the left lane blocking traffic.