MLK Jr. Boulevard to close for the weekend, reopen with new traffic pattern

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — A closure impacting two major roads in Hillsborough County could slow down drivers this weekend.

The Florida Department of Transportation is implementing a new traffic pattern at the I-75 and Martin Luther King Junior Boulevard interchange.

Crews are putting the finishing touches on a diverging diamond interchange.

“Traffic flow increases greatly when we convert our interchanges to this design,” Greg Deese, FDOT resident engineer, said.

Workers are in the final stages of a major portion of the $89.7 million project. Construction started in August 2021 and is expected to be complete in Summer 2025.

“Because you have such major traffic coming off the interstate a lot of it’s going to Williams Road and Falkenburg Road and the commercial centers around there. This will allow us to tweak the traffic signal timing so we have more vehicles through this congested area all at once,” Deese said.

To finish up the traffic switch crews will shut down MLK Jr. Boulevard between Williams Road and Falkenburg Road at 9 p.m. Friday. The closure includes the on and off ramps for I-75.

“The reason we have to shut it down is because there’s a lot of work that has to happen in a small area. We’ll have asphalt paving, we’ll be relocation concrete barriers for a pedestrian walkway and really the main things are the signals configuring for the new signals and striping,” Deese said.

The area reopens Sunday afternoon with the DDI in place. The speed limit will be lower and cars will cross to the left side of the road while driving through the interchange. Drivers will cross back the right on the other side.

According to Deese, the change will improve safety and congestion.

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