Whether drivers are local, a snowbird or just passing through, they'll be relieved that the Interstate 275 widening project has reached a milestone.

At about 11:30 Friday night, the  southbound lanes of I-275 will close between the downtown Tampa area and Dale Mabry Highway.

When it reopens just before 6 a.m., it will do so with a shift to four sparkling new, wide, southbound lanes. Also, the Howard and Himes avenues exit will be moved back to their natural right lane exits.

"[Drivers] are going to find some delays," John McShaffrey, spokesman for the Florida Department of Transportation. "There will definitely be some backups on southbound I-275 and on westbound I-4, because where westbound I-4 ties into I-275, they will go right into that detour and into downtown."

The new 4.2-mile stretch should improve the commute for drivers that have been dealing with a maze of shifts, cones, closures and congestion on I-275 into the Westshore district.

Relief along the northbound lanes is up next, although there is no timetable for that completion yet.

The entire $217-million project is slated to be completed by the end of 2016.