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Residents To Meet With Official About Intersection Improvements

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By TOM BRENNAN | The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 9, 2008

BRANDON Gladys Will and her neighbors don't like what they are hearing about the county's latest plans to revamp the intersection of Lumsden and Lithia-Pinecrest roads.

They are especially riled about a proposal to build a new two-lane road that would bisect Lithia-Pinecrest between Bell Shoals and Durant roads.

"They are talking about taking property from people who live on both sides of Lithia-Pinecrest," said Will, who lives off Bell Shoals. "I have a problem with their solution, and so do my friends."

Residents will hold a neighborhood meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the Brandon Recreation Center, 510 E. Sadie St., to discuss the plans with Reg Alford, the county's project manager.

"We want information, and for him to consider the community," Will said. "When you live in the community, you can tell [county officials] things they don't know."

The county has been studying how to improve the intersection since 2003. Several flaws cause congestion and confusion there: Too many cars try to squeeze through the intersection, especially during the morning and evening rushes, and Bell Shoals and Durant roads merge at odd angles with Lithia-Pinecrest short distances from the intersection, making it nearly impossible to enter Lithia-Pinecrest when traffic is backed up.

Alford said the county is proposing to turn Bell Shoals into a cul-de-sac where it intersects with Lithia-Pinecrest, meaning there would be no access to Lithia-Pinecrest from Bell Shoals. Officials also want to make Durant a cul-de-sac where it intersects with Lumsden, so there would be no access to Lumsden from Durant.

The new two-lane road between Bell Shoals and Durant would be built about 1,200 feet south of Lumsden and have a traffic light at Lithia-Pinecrest.

Alford said the proposal takes into consideration that Lithia-Pinecrest will be widened in the near future.

"Rather that an interim, temporary solution, we are looking for a permanent one," he said.

The county is spending $2.5 million studying how best to widen Lithia-Pinecrest between State Road 60 and County Road 39 to handle anticipated growth in the area. Preliminary traffic studies recommended widening the road to six lanes.

Alford said the intersection improvement plans are in the preliminary engineering stage, and the county is negotiating with a consultant on a design contract.

Additional public meetings will be held as the design is drafted.

WHAT: Bell Shoals/Lithia-Pinecrest intersection improvements meeting
WHEN: 7 p.m. Wednesday
WHERE: Brandon Recreation Center, 510 E. Sadie St.

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

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