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County switches gears for Lithia-Pinecrest Road expansion

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Laura Frazier

lfrazier@tampatrib.com

Published: July 1, 2009

LITHIA - When county consultants asked people to weigh in on an option to expand two-lane Lithia-Pinecrest Road to six lanes from State Road 60 to County Road 39, Kelly Cornelius told them how she really felt.

"That's I-75 going through rural Lithia," Cornelius said at a public meeting in November. "We are gonna full-on fight it."

After months of meetings and one-on-one discussions with residents, it turns out the county would rather switch lanes than fight.

Few who attended public meetings during the past year to discuss the alternatives denied that something must be done to alleviate traffic on the heavily travelled commuter artery. Many, however, said six lanes would be overkill.

Studies completed in 2007 indicate the road will require six lanes to keep up with traffic volume through 2038. The build options were designed to meet Federal Highway Administration standards so the county can qualify for 50 percent matching funds from the federal government.

County spokesman Steve Valdez said residents of rural Lithia - from FishHawk Boulevard to C.R. 39 - weren't the only ones cool to the six-lane option.

"After talking to the residents, we just weren't comfortable with the six-lane option extending out to 39," Valdez said. "It's really very rural there."

A new option suggests eventually widening the road to six lanes from S.R. 60 south to the entrance of FishHawk Trails and improving - but not widening - the stretch from FishHawk Trails to CR 39.

After the public has a chance to review the new plan and comment, the county will hold a public hearing to present its final recommendations. Then the proposal goes to the highway administration for review.

But that won't necessarily be the end of the road.

If the plan is approved for funding by the feds, county managers will have to figure out where to find matching county money. There is no funding on the books or currently available for the project.

For information, go to www.lpcstudy.com.

Fed funds stimulate Connector construction

Federal stimulus money totaling $105 million will enable the Florida Department of Transportation to begin construction of the Interstate 4-Selmon Expressway Connector three years ahead of schedule.

The $628.3 million project was designed to relieve 21st and 22nd streets in Ybor City of about 10,000 trucks a day that travel between the Port of Tampa and I-4. It also aims to improve the regional movement of traffic throughout the Tampa Bay area, and will open route options for motorists traveling from Brandon on the Selmon Crosstown to Interstate 275 and Tampa International Airport.

Construction of the connector, a mile-long, multilane elevated segment with a series of separate ramps, is scheduled to begin in early 2010 and be completed by late 2014. Tolls on the road, to be operated by Florida's Turnpike System, will range from 50 cents to $1.25. For information, call the Florida Department of Transportation's District 7 office at (813) 975-6060 or go to www.dot.state.fl.us.

College Avenue closed during drainage work

College Avenue will be closed at Fourth Street Southwest in Ruskin from 9 a.m. Monday through 4 p.m. July 11 while crews from the Hillsborough County South Service Unit construct drainage improvements. The road will be open to local traffic up to the point of closure. For information, call (813) 307-8384.

Intersection upgrades up for discussion

Hillsborough County will hold a public meeting to discuss proposed improvements to the intersection of Lithia-Pinecrest, Lumsden and Bell Shoals roads and the intersection of Durant and Lumsden roads at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Bell Shoals Baptist Church, 2012 Bell Shoals Road, Brandon. County staff will present alternatives for improvements and answer residents' questions. For information, call (813) 272-5275.

Causeway Boulevard work set to wrap

The Florida Department of Transportation and CSX are expected to complete work this week on Causeway Boulevard at the railroad tracks east of U.S. 41. Until the road and rail improvements are complete, Causeway will remain open to local traffic up to the work area, but motorists will not be able to cross the tracks. Traffic is being detoured at Maydell Drive and U.S. 41/50th Street. For information, call (813) 975-6060.

Send traffic and transportation briefs, questions or comments to reporter Laura Frazier at lfrazier

@tampatrib.com or call (813) 627-4767.

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