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Road Cut-Off Plans To Be Reviewed

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By TOM BRENNAN

The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 21, 2008

BRANDON - Resounding public protest persuaded county officials to rethink plans to cut off two well-traveled roads off Lithia-Pinecrest Road to accommodate improvements at its busy intersection with Lumsden Road.

Blocking off Bell Shoals and Durant roads from Lithia-Pinecrest and ending them at cul-de-sacs is part of the county's plan to revamp the intersection. Bell Shoals and Durant meet Lithia-Pinecrest south of Lumsden.

Residents argued at a neighborhood meeting May 14 in favor of limiting motorists to right turns only into and out of Bell Shoals and Durant rather than cutting them off.

"Why not just give it a try? It would be a lot cheaper," said Tony Penaranda, whose home would abut the new cul-de-sac at the end of Durant. "What can it hurt?"

Reg Alford, the county's project manager, was hesitant to consider the request. He said allowing motorists to turn right at Bell Shoals could interfere with the goal of moving traffic more efficiently through the intersection.

"The whole idea is to keep traffic flowing down Lithia-Pinecrest," he said.

Residents' skepticism about cutting the two roads off from Lithia-Pinecrest was enough to sway Jess Johnson, a senior aide to County Commissioner Al Higginbotham.

"I can assure you that Commissioner Higginbotham will ask them to re-examine the right-in, right-out option," Johnson said.

The concession pleased Bob Kershner, who helped organize the meeting with his wife, Lois, and neighbor Gladys Will.

"I think we got somebody's attention, and that was the point of the meeting - to inform the community and let it voice its opinion," he said.

Residents also were also upset about county officials' proposal to cut a new two-lane road between Bell Shoals and Durant roads to provide additional access to Lithia-Pinecrest.

Alford said that plan is off the drawing board, at least for now - in part because the county has only $5 million to make interim improvements to the intersection. Cost estimates for all the work county officials want to do are at $35.1 million. A new road would tack on an additional $4.8 million.

The county is considering adding through and turn lanes on Lumsden and Lithia-Pinecrest and making Lumsden four lanes on both sides of Lithia-Pinecrest, Alford said.

He said the county is negotiating with a consultant to do a preliminary design and environmental study on the project. Residents at the meeting complained most about the growth they say is destroying their neighborhoods.

"This used to be a quiet, well-maintained community," said Roy Toy, who has lived off Bell Shoals for 37 years. "The county has allowed all this development. We are concerned about our quality of life."

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

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