All travel lanes through the Interstate 275/Interstate 4 downtown Tampa interchange reopened Sunday evening, hours ahead of schedule, ending a closure that had snarled traffic and frustrated drivers during a busy weekend of downtown events.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) said as of 6 p.m. Sunday, motorists can travel freely through the interchange after crews completed critical bridge construction work ahead of schedule.

Drivers had faced heavy delays Saturday as lane closures collided with popular events, including Mimosa Fest, forcing many to detour through neighborhood streets. Some attendees said they didnt realize the interstate was shut down until they encountered gridlock.

FDOT explained the work was part of a multi-year safety and operational improvements projec

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