Selmon reversible lanes need the direction check

Tampa's Selmon Reversible Express Lanes run by time and direction, so the gate, hour, toll, and destination matter before the merge.

Cars and driving

The Selmon Reversible Express Lanes are the kind of road that rewards checking before merging.

They are part of the Selmon Expressway system in Tampa. The lanes change direction by time. On weekdays, the posted schedule sends traffic westbound toward Tampa in the morning, splits operation around midday, and sends traffic eastbound toward Brandon for the afternoon and overnight period. Weekends and holidays are generally eastbound toward Brandon.

The important word is “generally.” THEA notes that times are approximate and subject to change. Maintenance, construction, incidents, and special timing can affect the real drive.

That means the driver should not treat the reversible lanes like a normal side lane. Check the direction, the open gates, the toll, the entry, and the exit before you commit. If the destination is close, the regular lanes may make more sense.

For Tampa commuters, the lanes can be a helpful tool. For visitors, they can feel confusing because the road is literally not always going the same way. A quick check keeps the clever shortcut from becoming the wrong-way plan.