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Rural Byway May Become Highway

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By SUSAN M. GREEN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: April 19, 2008

WIMAUMA - Two-lane State Road 674, the main thoroughfare through Wimauma, has been targeted for widening and improvements that would rival suburban arteries in nearby Brandon and Riverview.

A proposal being floated by the Florida Department of Transportation would swell the stretch between U.S. 301 and West Lake Drive to six lanes and include a 22-foot-wide grassy median, bicycle lanes and sidewalks.

From West Lake to a point just east of County Road 579, the road would be four lanes, with bicycle lanes, sidewalks and a grassy median that would vary in width from 14.5 to 22 feet.

The proposal targets nearly 3 miles of roadway and is part of an analysis known as a project development and environment study. DOT spokeswoman Kris Carson said Tuesday no time frame or cost estimate for the project had been determined.

The improvements are needed to accommodate growth, state officials said. About 9,000 to 12,000 vehicles travel the stretch daily, but that figure could zoom as high as 41,700 a day by 2030, according to state projections.

The state has much of the needed right of way for the proposed widening but will have to acquire additional room to grow between U.S. 301 and Edina Street.

The department is taking public comment on the proposal. Written comments must be postmarked before April 28. They should be sent to Robert Clifford, Florida Department of Transportation, 11201 N. McKinley Drive, MS 7-500, Tampa FL 33612-6456, or e-mail robert.clifford@dot.state .fl.us.

For information, contact the DOT project manager, Gabor Farkasfalvy at (813) 975-6455 or e-mail gabor.farkasfalvy@ dot.state.fl.us.

Mall's Effect On Roads Pondered

APOLLO BEACH - County and state officials are negotiating with developers to determine what's needed to improve Big Bend Road and other nearby highways to accommodate the planned Southshore Commons open-air mall.

A report approved Monday by the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council predicts the project would affect not only Big Bend and access ramps to Interstate 75, but also roads as far away as 19th Avenue in Ruskin and Gibsonton Drive, Riverview Drive and 78th Street in Riverview.

The 1 million-square-foot SouthShore Commons retail center is part of a 777-acre development of regional impact, or DRI, dubbed Southbend that was approved more than 20 years ago. The tract is on the south side of Big Bend just west of I-75. The planning council, which advises Hillsborough County commissioners, has approved a report that estimates road improvements for Southbend's first two phases, including the retail center, at $36.6 million.

The improvements include widening Big Bend from four to six lanes, expanding I-75 access ramps and installing traffic signals at several intersections.

John Meyer, DRI coordinator at the planning council, said he could not estimate how much of that cost should be paid by developers of the shopping center or what projects should be required. Much of that will be up to county commissioners when they consider whether to accept some proposed revisions to the development order.

Jay Miller, vice president of mall developer Equity Inc., said his company has discussed committing to improvements estimated to cost $22 million to $24 million, but no final price tag is ready to take to commissioners. He said he hopes a proposal will be ready in the next two months. The anticipated mall opening is two years away.

A hearing on the project is scheduled for May 13 but may be postponed, said John Healey, executive planner overseeing DRI projects in Hillsborough's Planning & Growth Management Department. He said county planners would need time to analyze a specific list of proposed road improvements before the hearing date.

Miller said entrances to the shopping center are expected to be built on the south side of Big Bend, across from East Bay High School, and off Covington Garden Drive. Equity likely would make improvements in those areas and would prefer to devote resources to easy access for mall patrons, Miller said.

"Our goal is to try to make sure there is no congestion coming in and out of the project," he said.

But the county has assigned some improvements for Big Bend and I-75 to other developers. For example, Newland Communities, which is building a large residential subdivision nearby, is responsible for widening a section of Big Bend near the mall project. Work has stalled because of the housing slump, Miller said.

Improvements may be required some distance from Big Bend, he said. After county commissioners approve a list of improvements, state transportation officials will review it. DOT officials have said in the past they are concerned about traffic backing onto I-75.

"The issues on Big Bend have to do with traffic on I-75 during rush hour," Miller said. "The rest of the day, it's in pretty good shape."

Bumpy Ride Ahead?

RUSKIN - Hillsborough County officials will hold a public meeting to discuss the possibility of speed humps to address traffic problems on two roads, Ninth Street and Barclay Wood Drive, in the area of Shell Point Road.

Public input from the meeting will be used in forwarding a recommendation to county commissioners, who make final decisions regarding traffic control options such as speed humps.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday at the South Shore Regional Service Center, 410 30th St. S.E.

Duck And Dodge

• In Apollo Beach, the southbound lane of Fairway Boulevard between Flamingo Drive and Apollo Beach Boulevard may be blocked intermittently to allow a county contractor to unload construction equipment. The work is scheduled to be completed by May 1.

Workers also will be installing a sewage line that is expected to delay traffic from time to time on Golf & Sea Boulevard between Island Cay Way and Apollo Beach Boulevard. That work is scheduled for completion by Aug. 8.

• In the Summerfield area, north- and southbound lanes of Summerfield Boulevard may be blocked intermittently at Big Bend Road to allow installation of a traffic signal, sidewalks, curbing and gutters. The same project will affect east- and westbound lanes of Big Bend Road at the intersection. The work is scheduled to continue through June 12.

• In Riverview, Tampa Electric Co. workers are expected to replace power poles along Riverview Drive between Hickory Lane and Millpoint Circle. The work could temporarily block the westbound lane through May 16.

For information about any of these projects, call (813) 307-8384.

GOT A QUESTION?

Do you wonder why two roads come together as they do? Know about a recurring traffic hazard or bottleneck in your South Shore neighborhood or on your commute? Think you know a way to relieve traffic jams? Call Susan Green at (813) 865-1566 or e-mail sgreen@tampatrib.com with suggestions for "Getting Around."

Reporter Susan M. Green can be reached at (813) 865-1566 or sgreen@tampatrib.com.

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