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Intersection Work Nears Completion

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By SUSAN M. GREEN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 6, 2008

RIVERVIEW - Two years of construction at U.S. 301 and Big Bend Road are nearing an end, but not without hiccups.

Marion Giblin of Sun City Center, a teacher who takes U.S. 301 to work at a Riverview school before 7 a.m. daily, sent an e-mail to the South Shore News & Tribune inquiring about the state highway's unstriped lanes south of the Big Bend traffic signal.

In the mornings, she said, traffic backs up because dozens of trucks and cars pack the left-turn lane trying to head west on Big Bend toward Interstate 75, and the queue streams into travel lanes for through traffic. She said it frequently takes her five to nine minutes to get through the intersection.

The lack of striping confuses motorists, she said, adding that she recently saw two afternoon accidents at the site in the same week.

"In addition," Giblin wrote, "the whole stretch of Route 301 from its intersection with Route State Road 674 goes from two lanes to three lanes, and back and forth for miles, another unsafe condition."

She added: "With huge residential growth, the number of schools in the area, and the construction vehicles constantly moving through this area, fixing Route 301 should be a priority in this county."

The state, county and developers have made plans to widen U.S. 301 from Gibsonton Drive in Riverview to S.R. 674 in Wimauma. Over the next few years, the highway is scheduled to grow - in phases - from two lanes to six.

Kris Carson, spokeswoman for the Florida Department of Transportation, said the state expects to award a contract this summer for the 6-mile stretch from Riverview south to County Road 672, south of Big Bend Road.

The remaining four miles south to S.R. 674 will start later.

Recent improvements to the intersection at Big Bend are not part of the widening project. They were required of developers in conjunction with approval of the shopping centers that sprang up recently on both sides of Big Bend just east of U.S. 301.

Construction on the south side of the intersection was required of Shoppes of South Bay, the developer of a center anchored by Sweetbay.

Carson said work halted and the lanes went unstriped for about four months because the developer stopped paying the contractor. She said the state was preparing to tap funding provided by the developer's performance bond to get the job finished.

Lamar Haggard, a partner in the development company, said he instructed the contractor to resume work this week and estimated the project will be completed in about 10 days. Once finished, there will be two marked left-turn lanes with signal lights to move westbound traffic onto Big Bend more quickly, he said.

Haggard said construction stopped temporarily because DOT road inspectors were not satisfied with the intersection design, although it had been previously approved.

"We did it exactly the way it was supposed to be done," he said.

Carson confirmed that revisions to the developer's plans were required and said that's not uncommon when unforeseen issues arise.

Haggard said Shoppes of South Bay built about $2 million worth of improvements at the intersection.

He said much of it will be torn out and rebuilt when the road is widened, possibly in the next year. State officials have said they don't know exactly where in the 6-mile strip construction will start.

Haggard said intersection work stopped last fall while he negotiated with the state.

"It's just been a mess," he said. "I'm not going to do any more work that ties to DOT."

Railroad Work To Close Road

In Alafia, Keysville Road was scheduled to close Tuesday at its intersection with Henry George Road. It is to remain closed until Friday to allow CSX to replace a crossing.

County officials recommend motorists on the west side of the roadblock take Henry George north to Old Hopewell Road to reach County Road 39. Motorists on the east side should go south on Keysville Road, then west on Lithia-Pinecrest Road to C.R. 39.

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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