TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

U.S. 301 Widening Plan Debut Set

ADVERTISEMENT

By TOM BRENNAN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 2, 2008

Updated: 12/29/2007 08:56 pm

BRANDON - Development comes with many prices.

And for Centex Homes, those include widening U.S. 301 between Causeway Boulevard and Falkenburg Road.

Centex is adding a lane in each direction of the major north-south thoroughfare as part of the transportation improvements required in exchange for county approval of its Magnolia Park development.

"It will improve the traffic conditions along U.S. 301, definitely," said Jamie Sullivan, an engineer with Kimley-Horn and Associates, the company overseeing project.

Residents and motorists can get their first glimpse of the improvements at a public meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday at East Tampa Christian Church, 7824 24th Ave. S., Tampa.

Sullivan said there will be a presentation and a period for questions. People can write or videotape comments about the project.

Sullivan said no additional land will be needed for the widening.

U.S. 301 narrows from six lanes to four south of Falkenburg Road, often catching drivers heading north in the right lane off guard and forcing them to weave back into traffic.

Sullivan said the intersection at Wes Kearney Way will be maintained, and a 5-foot sidewalk will be built from Wes Kearney to Falkenburg to connect with the existing sidewalks.

He said the new lanes will have 12-foot shoulders, including 5-foot-wide paved lanes for bicyclists or walkers.

Sullivan said the stormwater system will be brought up to current standards. A noise study also will be conducted.

Sullivan said Centex hopes to begin the work in spring, but he didn't know how much it would cost or how long it would take.
Magnolia Park is a planned 256-unit town house complex, part of a project county commissioners approved rezoning for in 2005. Commissioners rezoned 579 acres at the northeast and southeast corners of Progress Boulevard and Falkenburg for 2,750 homes, 125,000 square feet of commercial space, 60,000 square feet of offices and 770,000 square feet of industrial, warehouse or flex space.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Meeting on widening U.S. 301 between Causeway Boulevard and Falkenburg Road

WHEN: 6 p.m. Tuesday

WHERE: East Tampa Christian Church, 7824 24th Ave. S., Tampa

Reporter Tom Brennan can be reached at (813) 657-4528 or tbrennan@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT