Interstate 75 North - Wesley Chapel to Brooksville

Locally known as the Apex, an end sign for I-275 north appears beyond the County Line Road overpass. The sign was originally designed to mark the transition of I-275 north onto I-75, from before the completion of the Tampa Bypass section of I-75.

08/17/18

2009-11 construction along I-75 relocated the Exit 275 gore point for SR 56 nearly two miles further south, with its egress point preceding the mainline merge with northbound I-275. Subsequent work added a third travel lane for I-75 north to CR 54 by October 2013.

08/17/18

Part of a heavily traveled six lane arterial with SR 54, SR 56 serves commuter interests to Land O' Lakes, Wesley Chapel, the New Tampa community and Zephyrhills.

06/10/20

New Port Richey and Tarpon Springs are both located along U.S. 19 near the coast. Mileage statistics referenced here are inaccurate, as they were carried over from the CR 54 off-ramp at Exit 279.

06/28/16

The ramp for SR 56 extends 2.1 miles. SR 56 opened to traffic east from Meadow Pointe Boulevard to U.S. 301 on July 10, 2019. An FDOT study (project ID 443367-1-22-01) is underway to lengthen the four lane highway further east to SR 39.

06/28/16

SR 56 was constructed during a $31.2 million project from June 14, 1999 to June 2002.¹ The new state road created a shorter route between Land O' Lakes and I-75 while also opening up land along the Hillsborough-Pasco county line for further development. Construction completed in April 2023 converted this exchange to a DDI.

03/01/13

I-75 advances 1.4 miles north from SR 56 to the Pasco County Rest Areas.

09/17/19

Work underway from October 2017 to early 2019 added sensors in the truck parking areas to indicate space availability to drivers.²

08/17/18

Six lane widening along I-75 from south of SR 56 to north of CR 54 / Exit 279 at Wesley Chapel was completed by early 2013. Started on March 14, 2011, the $22.5 million project included the addition of an auxiliary lane in each direction between Exit 275 and 279.³

08/17/18

The succeeding exit joins I-75 with CR 54 (Wesley Chapel Boulevard) in two miles. Still displayed as SR 54 here, the section of SR 54 along Wesley Chapel Boulevard at I-75 was downgraded when SR 56 opened to traffic in 2002.

08/17/18

Both rest areas along I-75 in Pasco County were demolished and rebuilt as part of $25.1 million project between July 12, 2010 and March 9, 2012.⁴ The facilities allow travelers to avoid the suburban exits in southern Pasco County.

11/11/19

08/17/18

Exit 279 serves the north end of Wesley Chapel, a fast growing community spreading north along Wesley Chapel Boulevard (CR 54) and SR 581 (Bruce B. Downs Boulevard).

08/17/18

CR 54 (Wesley Chapel Boulevard) measures 5.07 miles between SR 56 and SR 581 in unincorporated Wesley Chapel. CR 54 transitions into SR 54 just east of Exit 279 at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

08/17/18

Two lanes leave for Exit 279 and CR 54 (Wesley Chapel Boulevard).

08/17/18

SR 54 resumes east from CR 54 at SR 581 and extends 10.97 miles to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills. Traveling wholly within Pasco County, SR 54 overall ends at U.S. 19 in Elfers to the west.

08/17/18

Expansion of I-75 from CR 54 (Wesley Chapel Boulevard) to a point north of SR 52 ran from May 29, 2014 into early 2018. The $72 million project added a third lane along both roadways, upgraded drainage facilities, replaced signage, and added high mast landing.⁵

01/18/23

Six miles separate Wesley Chapel from Exit 285 for SR 52. Exit 301 joins I-75 with U.S. 98/SR 50 in 21 miles within Hernando County, while Ocala edges closer at 75 miles.

01/18/23

$64 million in construction underway from October 2020 to Summer early 2023 added a diamond interchange and flyover joining Interstate 75 with Overpass Road at Exit 282.

01/18/23

Exit 282 for Overpass Road opened to traffic on the morning of January 18, 2023.

01/18/23

Overpass Road is a suburban arterial leading east from parallel Old Pasco Road to the Watergrass Development beyond CR 577 (Curley Road).

01/18/23

Further opening up land for development, future construction extends Overpass Road east to U.S. 301 at CR 530 (Kossik Road) and Zephyrhills.

01/16/23

01/18/23

Leading north from Overpass Road, I-75 parallels McKendree Road.

01/18/23

A distance sign added as part of the Overpass Road interchange project omits SR 50 for U.S. 98 at Exit 301 in 18 miles.

01/18/23

West of Exit 285, SR 52 heads 23 miles to U.S. 19 at Bayonet Point, crossing U.S. 41 at Gowers Corner and SR 589 (Suncoast Parkway) en route.

01/18/23

2014-18 construction expanded the diamond interchange at Exit 285 with a new loop ramp from SR 52 west to I-75 south.⁵

01/18/23

Home of Saint Leo University, San Antonio lies 3.2 miles to the east of the freeway. Dade City is located another six miles further along U.S. 301/98. The East Campus of Pasco-Hernando State College is ten miles away via SR 52/CR 52 and CR 41 (Blanton Road) north.

01/18/23

2014-18 work at Exit 285 also expanded SR 52 to a six lane arterial between Old Pasco Road and Corporate Lake Boulevard. This widening preceded further expansion of SR 52 in both directions.⁵

01/18/23

This confirming marker stands just beyond an underpass added during the $72 million widening project in 2014-18. Work rebuilt both roadways, raising each in elevation.

12/13/21

CR 41 provides another connection to Dade City in seven miles while Ocala is within 69 miles. The ensuing 7.8 mile long section of I-75 was widened from four to six overall lanes during a $47 million project from April 14, 2014 to Summer 2016.⁶

04/17/19

Interstate 75 commences a five mile shift longitudinally east through northern reaches of Pasco County. The winding stretch of freeway is the highest along I-75 in Florida, with elevations reaching 200 feet above sea level.

05/05/16

Interstate 75 crosses a causeway over Moody Lake on the one mile approach to the rural exchange with County Road 41 at Exit 293.

05/05/16

CR 41 (Blanton Road) approaches Dade City from the northwest and travels along 21st Street to SR 52 (Meridian Avenue). A second segment of CR 41 leads south from Dade City to Zephyrhills.

05/05/16

Entering the parclo B2 interchange (Exit 293) with County Road 41 (Blanton Road) on I-75 north. CR 41 turns north along Lake Iola Road 0.8 miles to the west en route toward the community of Spring Lake and U.S. 98/SR 50 as Hernando County Road 541.

05/05/16

Travelers on I-75 north continue between Mud and McClendon Lakes over the next two miles.

07/28/18

Gainesville makes its debut along I-75 north at 94 miles out while Ocala is about an hour drive away. The lone interchange in forthcoming Hernando County joins the freeway with U.S. 98 and SR 50 in seven miles.

08/16/18

Passing by the northeast edge of Mud Lake, Interstate 75 enters Hernando County. The county was created in 1843 and named for Hernando de Soto, a Spanish explorer and conquistador.

07/28/18

Interstate 75 navigates through a series of S-curves through hilly terrain in southern Hernando County. This scene looks north of the Church Road overpass, east of Robison Lake.

11/11/19

Guides signs installed in 2018 reference Weeki Wachee, the end of SR 50 at U.S. 19, and unincorporated Ridge Manor. Weeki Wachee lies 22 miles to the west while Ridge Manor is three miles to the east along U.S. 301. A greenout added in 2021 covers Tourist Info Center.

12/13/21

A $96.7 million project underway from July 2016 to Fall 2019 completed the six-laning of I-75 through Hernando County and reconfigured Exit 301 to a single point interchange. The northbound off-ramp to U.S. 98/SR 50 was lengthened significantly to better handle truck traffic.⁷
U.S. 98 crosses the Sunshine State along a nearly 600 mile course, from the Alabama state line west of Pensacola, to West Palm Beach along the Atlantic coast.

09/17/19

U.S. 98/SR 50 (Cortez Boulevard) overlap for 11.22 miles from Brooksville, seat of Hernando County, east to the unincorporated community of Ridge Manor. SR 50 crosses the width of the Florida Peninsula, connecting Spring Hill, Clermont, Orlando and Titusville.

09/17/19

The $96.7 million expansion project for Interstate 75 at U.S. 98/SR 50 (Cortez Boulevard) included the addition of new steel bridges for both freeway roadways. The nearly 300 foot long spans provide increased clearance for Cortez Boulevard, which was widened to six lanes in the immediate vicinity.⁷

09/02/19

The Sherman Hills golf course community abuts the east side of Interstate 75 by this confirming marker.

09/17/19

I-75 continues north by wetlands associated with Oriole Lake beyond this distance sign. The succeeding exit is with County Road 476B in eight miles.

09/17/19

Passing over Croom Rital Road and the Withlacoochee State Trail, travelers approach the next rest area along the rural interstate. The Withlacoochee State Trail follows a former Seaboard Coast Line railroad (CSL) along a 46 mile long path through Citrus, Hernando and Pasco counties.

11/11/19

Interstate 75 north enters Sumter County across Silver Lake and the Withlacoochee River. The Villages comprises the majority of the population for Sumter County. Bushnell is the seat.

09/02/19