A $340 million widening project has started on Interstate 275 in Pinellas County, part of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Moving Florida Forward initiative to address traffic congestion across the state.

The project covers the stretch of I-275 from 38th Avenue North to 4th Street North. Plans include constructing two express lanes in each direction between 38th Avenue North and just south of Gandy Boulevard. An additional express lane will also be added from south of Gandy Boulevard to 4th Street, expanding last year’s Gateway Expressway lanes to two in each direction.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), new state funding allowed the project to begin years earlier than expected. “It would’ve been another 8–10 years to get this project to construction had we not had this new funding,” said John McShaffrey, FDOT community outreach manager. “With the congestion we have out there, the sooner we can build the new lanes and express lanes, the better for everybody to move traffic through the area more freely.”

The express lanes will be tolled. FDOT officials say tolled express lanes in other parts of Florida have helped reduce congestion by providing drivers with an option for more consistent travel times while easing traffic in general-use lanes.

Construction is scheduled to be completed in 2030. FDOT also plans to extend the new express lanes to downtown St. Petersburg in the future.

A public workshop on the project will be held Sept. 25 at the Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority office in St. Petersburg from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

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