TAMPA, Florida — It has been nine months since work started to build overhead lanes along Gandy Boulevard in Tampa.

And drivers on Gandy Boulevard are feeling the growing pains of the new Selmon Expressway extension.

While the majority of the work is happening during the overnight hours, the morning and afternoon drive see major amounts of traffic.

One of the worst spots is for eastbound drivers trying to get on or off the Selmon at Gandy.

There is a very short approach between the CSX tracks, the Selmon Ramps and the light at Dale Mabry Highway. Drivers criss-cross all lanes.

It's dangerous and creates back-ups.

Issues like this will be eliminated with the new overhead lanes, according to Sue Chrzan with the Tampa Hillsborough Expressway Authority.

"Once we have the extension built, that traffic will change, because all of those people trying to mish-mash will be up on the extension and will be taking the extension into the expressway," Chrzan said.

Until then, for eastbound drivers there is a better way to get on the Selmon rather than the current ramp at Gandy.

"Get in the left lane, at Dale Mabry, turn left and use the Dale Mabry ramp behind Target to get up on the expressway," she said.

Work on the east end already shows the ramp up to the extension and will be taller than the standard overpass.

"The bottom of the box, the bottom of the extension is going to be 30 feet in the air,” Chrzan said. “And that's so as you're driving along Gandy Boulevard, if you're not using our extension, you can still see across the corridor and see the businesses on each side of Gandy."

The Expressway Authority estimates the Selmon extension will take 40 percent of the through traffic off of Gandy Boulevard, making getting there easier and faster for everyone,

Officials say the project is on time and expects traffic to be on the new bridge in two years.