History
Originally constructed in 1943 to connect MacDill Air Force Base with Drew Field, Dale Mabry Highway was named after Dale Mabry, a Florida native and World War I aviator. Dale Mabry runs along what was originally called Vera Ave. according to land plots from the Hillsborough County Property Appraiser. The highway has seen many changes throughout the years, including an extension to US 41 in Pasco County, and major widening projects.
During the 1960s/1970s, a portion of Dale Mabry Highway was planned as a freeway between what was then I-4 (now I-275) to the Northwest Hillsborough Expressway (now Veterans Expressway's eastern terminus).
Dale Mabry Highway is typical of a roadway in a suburban sprawl setting. The road is a minimum four lanes wide along its entirety and in many places has wide medians, no sidewalks, and open drainage. At most intersections the traffic signals are hung across the road on wires rather than on mast arm technology, creating unsightly views. It is also home to many strip clubs, including Mons Venus. New Urbanist Jim Colleran nominated the street as one of the "Worst Streets in North America" due to its infamous sprawl.
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