The Busch Gardens Tram roadway and entrance to Preferred Parking passes below McKinley Drive through a four lane tunnel. 03/24/18
Signed with a lone pentagon, County Road 585A overlays N 40th Street / McKinley Drive 1.50 miles north from SR 580 (Busch Boulevard) to SR 582 (Fowler Avenue). The four lane boulevard connects with the main entrances for both the Busch Gardens and Adventure Island theme parks. Further north, CR 585A runs between Tampa Industrial Park and District 7 headquarters for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The north end ties into the intersection with Spectrum Boulevard into the University of South Florida (USF).
Work on the $6.4 million project widening Malcolm McKinley Drive between SR 580 (Busch Boulevard) and SR 582 (Fowler Avenue) commenced in December 2003.1 The 10 month phase was one of five included in the overall $80 million2 expansion of 40th Street from U.S. 41/92 (Hillsborough Avenue) 4.2 miles north to Fowler Avenue. Initial discussion for widening 40th Street from two to four lanes originated in the 1960s.1
Construction along McKinley Drive at Busch Gardens included building two tunnels below the four lane boulevard. Dug 18 feet below ground level, the tunnels allow trams shuttling visitors from the main parking area of Busch Gardens to the theme park's entrance unimpeded passage across McKinley Drive, which passes three feet above the tops of the concrete tunnels. The tunnels eliminated a traffic light along McKinley Drive. The parking lot entrance for Busch Gardens was relocated northward, further away from Busch Gardens, also reducing congestion along State Road 580.2
Work progressed to March 2004, when the city of Tampa closed a portion of McKinley Drive from the signalized entrance to Busch Gardens to Bougainvillea Avenue.3 The closure extended to November 2004, when the tunnels to Busch Gardens were completed. Overall work on the expansion project wrapped up two months ahead of schedule by the end of December 2004.2
Busch Gardens built the ramps leading to the tunnel system.2 The theme park also renovated its parking lot and main entrance with new lighting, wrought-iron fencing and new landscaping.4 The second phase of the 40th Street widening project was awarded by Tampa City Council on November 18, 2004. Costing $1.98 million and extending to just south of Busch Boulevard, the project completed reconstruction of McKinley Drive.2 Connect with: Page Updated 05-07-2024.
North
N 40th Street extends north from U.S. 41/92 (Hillsborough Avenue) through the Temple Crest neighborhood to become McKinley Drive (CR 585A) at SR 580 (Busch Boulevard). 09/06/22
McKinley Drive (CR 585A) leads from SR 580 (Busch Boulevard) and N 40th Street to the Busch Gardens General Parking area. 09/06/22
McKinley Drive first intersects the signalized exit for the Busch Gardens General Parkway area. 09/06/22
Riders can be seen experiencing the terror of Montu roller coaster on the Busch Gardens main parking exit onto McKinley Drive (CR 585A). 06/08/09
The entrance to the Busch Gardens General Parking area follows from McKinley Drive northbound. 03/29/18
A protected left turn joins McKinley Drive southbound with the Busch Gardens General Parking area. 09/06/22
The Busch Gardens General Parking entrance from McKinley Drive is four lanes wide. This overhead assembly was removed by 2024. 03/29/18 
Bougainvillea Avenue is a minor urban arterial east by Adventure Island to Serena Drive in the Terrace Park neighborhood. West from McKinley Drive, Bougainvillea Avenue leads to the University Square and North Tampa neighborhoods. 09/06/22
Connecting separate sections of Moffitt Cancer Center, an enclosed pedestrian bridge spans McKinley Drive. 09/06/22
Traffic lights were added along McKinley Drive at the entrance to Moffitt Cancer Center in 2015. 09/06/22
The District 7 Headquarters for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) lines the east side of McKinley Drive south of SR 582 (Fowler Avenue). 09/06/22
McKinley Drive (CR 585A) intersects SR 582 (Fowler Avenue) across from Spectrum Boulevard into USF. SR 582 runs 3.5 miles east to Interstate 75 and 2.3 miles west to I-275. 09/06/22
South
The lone reassurance marker for Hillsborough County Road 585A stands along McKinley Drive south of SR 582 (Fowler Avenue). 09/13/16
Bougainvillea Avenue runs along the north side of both Busch Gardens and Adventure Island. The minor arterial measures 4.03 miles in length from SR 583 (N 56th Street) in Temple Terrace and U.S. 41 Business (Florida Avenue) in Tampa. 09/13/16
Photo Credits:
06/08/09, 09/13/16, 03/29/18, 09/06/22 by AARoads
State Road 580
State Road 582 - Fowler Avenue