Drivers quickly adapt to road changes around TIA

Drivers had little trouble navigating the roads surrounding Tampa International Airport Wednesday morning as a new ramp opened.  

The ramp, off the Howard Frankland Bridge, is taking traffic to the Veterans Expressway and to the airport.

With the high volume of traffic the airport exchange sees on a regular day, officials are stressing it's important to pay attention to the new changes.

"If you're coming off of that bridge and it's after 4:00 and you're coming to Tampa, you're going to catch it,'' said driver Brett Bishof of the afternoon rush-hour traffic.

Before today, there were two exits coming off the Howard Frankland Bridge - 39 A and B. One of those went to Kennedy and Westshore boulevards. The other went to the airport and to the highways.

Now there is just one exit.

Drivers will get off 275 and then to go west, they will veer to the left.

John McShaffrey said it may take drivers time to adjust to the changes.

"Yeah, there will be a little bit of confusion,'' he said. "What I think you'll really see is people who'll miss their exit.''

The new ramp will help stop all the drivers jockeying for position at the last minute through the interchange to get to the airport.

Transportation officials said despite a few confused drivers, morning rush-hour traffic handled the exit without any major problems.