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County aims to correct congested crossings

One of three build options would block access between Bell Shoals and Lumsden roads.

Tribune photo by LAURA FRAZIER

About 100 people attended a meeting at Bell Shoals Baptist Church July 7 to learn about three alternative build options the county is considering to improve the intersections of Lithia-Pinecrest Road at Bell Shoals and Lumsden roads and the corner of Lumsden and Durant roads.

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By LAURA FRAZIER | The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 9, 2009

BRANDON - Marie Robinson is certain that something must be done to improve the intersection of Bell Shoals and Lithia-Pinecrest roads. Her daughter was in an accident three years ago at the congested crossroads where commuters commonly play chicken.

"People get frustrated sitting there," she said. They just barrel out."

Robinson was among some 100 people who turned out for a public meeting at Bell Shoals Baptist Church July 7 to discuss Hillsborough County's plans to improve the intersections of Lithia-Pinecrest at Bell Shoals and Lumsden roads and the corner of Lumsden and Durant roads.

Frank Scerbo, a project manager hired by the county, described the heavily-travelled intersections as six skewed crossings with conflicting movements. Scerbo and county staff at the meeting outlined three options designed to manage the traffic more effectively and improve motorist safety.

All three alternatives would add through lanes and turn lanes to the area and improve sidewalks and drainage. Two options would also reconfigure the intersection of Bell Shoals and Lithia-Pinecrest to allow only right turns in and out of Bell Shoals.

A third alternative that suggests converting the north end of Bell Shoals into a cul-de-sac with no through-access to Lithia-Pinecrest proved to be the most controversial on the table.

Susan Taylor, who lives on Lumsden Road, was among many cool to the idea.

"If they close the southbound traffic going from Lumsden to Bell Shoals, how in the world are the residents or businesses on Bell Shoals going to have access?"

Taylor said some of the heaviest traffic on Bell Shoals -- school buses and parents driving from Brentwood Hills to Brooker Elementary School and many people traveling to school and services at Bell Shoals Baptist Church -- would have to drive south on Bryan Road and cut through to Bell Shoals using sleepy little residential roads like Hummingbird Lane, Bama Road and Orangewalk Drive.

"These planners, they don't live here, and they don't understand the flow of traffic," Taylor said. "You can't sit with a computer and a pad and a pencil and count cars. You have to live here to understand that these plans won't work."

The public is invited to comment on the options through July 21 . Design completion is scheduled for early 2010 and construction is set to commence in mid-2011. For more information or to submit comments, contact Scerbo at (813) 874-0777 or frank.scerbo@ch2m.com.

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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