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Detours Ahead For A Little Longer

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By SUSAN M. GREEN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 12, 2008

APOLLO BEACH - Hillsborough County officials can't wait to be out with the old, in with the new, when it comes to the Fairway Boulevard bridge.

But they, along with residents and visiting motorists, will have to wait a little longer. Construction of the bridge, under way since spring, is expected to be completed in April.

"Building the new bridge has been a relatively uneventful project," said county spokesman Steve Valdez.

"It's the old bridge that's really giving us the headaches."

County officials promised to try to keep open the original bridge that links neighborhoods, a school and businesses along Apollo Beach Boulevard with residential communities off Flamingo Drive.

Tides in the canal under the old bridge were washing out the approaches, which led to a $3 million replacement bridge project and later a $70,000 repair job to shore up the old bridge long enough to get the new bridge open.

Motorists in the area have faced "road closed" signs, and residents off Flamingo Drive were scheduled to deal with another monthlong detour starting last week. That detour has been postponed.

Valdez said the detour was tied to construction that was slated to start after new water lines were installed underground in the vicinity of Flamingo and Fairway. Before workers could rebuild the intersection there, water in the new lines had to pass health department safety tests.

Test results came back last week, and the water lines passed muster, Valdez said. But there wasn't enough time for county officials to post required notification signs so people could plan for the detour, he said. He said he hasn't received a new detour date from the contractor.

Signs will go up at least seven days before the road is closed, he said.

The new bridge is being built on the west side of the old one and will be higher to allow easier navigation of the canal by boats, Valdez said. Fairway Boulevard will have to be realigned to fit the new span. Unlike the old bridge design, the approaches to the bridge will be supported by pilings to prevent washouts, Valdez said.

Once the new bridge opens, the old bridge will be demolished, he said.

Duck And Dodge

Other motorist delays may include the following intermittent lane closures authorized to allow construction work:

•In Tropical Acres, Tampa Electric Co. workers may need to close the southbound lane of Spottswood Drive between Tocci Lane and Greenlee Way through Friday. The power company is installing a transformer.

•In Riverview, crews will close the eastbound lane of Boyette Road off and on between Balm-Riverview Road and McMullen Road through Friday to install a water main.

•In Ruskin, the westbound lane of West Shell Point Road may be affected by sidewalk removal and replacement between Fourth Street Northwest and 25th Street Northwest. Work is authorized through Feb. 7.

•In Fort Lonesome, motorists on County Road 39 from State Road 674 to Fort Lonesome Plant Road may encounter blocked lanes through March 1 as Mosaic constructs a mining utility corridor.

•In Sun City, TECO workers are authorized to close the eastbound lane of Stephens Road between Universal Drive and G-seven Ranch Road through Friday to install power poles.

For information, call (813) 272-5275.

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

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