Resurfacing Project: Life In The Slow Lane

By HAROLD VALENTINE The Tampa Tribune

Published: May 7, 2008

CARROLLWOOD - The status of resurfacing North Dale Mabry Highway between Waters and Fletcher avenues is on the mind of German Jordan.

Jordan wrote to the Carrollwood News & Tribune that it seemed as if work was moving fast early on, but recently he hasn't noticed much progress.

"It appears nothing has been done for weeks," he said.

The $5.2 million Florida Department of Transportation project is moving along smoothly, said spokeswoman Kris Carson, and is expected to be completed by the end of July.

Carson said the project entails more than closing lanes and laying asphalt.

The project was a multiyear effort before construction began Jan. 14. Rating the road's quality, obtaining funding and design were stages of the planning.

Carson said those plans involve components beyond resurfacing, including sidewalks on each side of the highway, minor drainage and amenities for HART buses.

She said ramps connecting Busch Boulevard to Dale Mabry were opened Thursday after being closed from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for resurfacing.

The overnight closure schedule remains the same as construction continues on the state road. From 8 p.m. to 10 a.m., northbound drivers will experience single-lane closures, and it will be the same for southbound drivers from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Double-lane closures may yield bigger headaches for drivers from midnight to 7 a.m. in northbound lanes and from 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. for southbound lanes.

Palms of Carrollwood Draws Concern

Reader Jim Teske wrote to mention his concern for drivers pulling onto Fletcher Avenue from the Palms of Carrollwood plaza at the northwest corner of Dale Mabry and Fletcher, which includes Fresh Market and Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries.

Teske said the area is dense with traffic, including a Checkers restaurant across the street, eastbound and westbound cars pulling into the plaza from Fletcher and a HART bus stop east of the outlet. Cars leaving the lot often have to wait several minutes, he said.

"There is a traffic signal a scant 200 feet east at Orange Grove Drive," Teske wrote, "and it would be so much more safe if all the cars exiting that shopping center trying to go east on Fletcher would be able to get onto Orange Grove to take advantage of the safety of the signal."

He added that traffic in the area has increased exponentially during 20 years, the age of the plaza.

Construction Updates

Construction projects this week include:

■In Town 'N Country, Waters Avenue, from Henderson to Beasley roads, is closed between rush hours until May 23 because of Tampa Electric Co.'s TECO's tree trimming near power lines.

On Sheldon Road, between Flora and Norfolk streets, pedestrian amenities are being installed from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. until June 12.

Fire hydrants are being installed on several roads, including Oxford Drive, Middlesex Drive, Mohr Loop, Mohr Road, Sussex Drive and Liverpool Drive until June 13.

On Old Linebaugh Avenue, between West W. Linebaugh Avenue and Olive Drive, improvements continue from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. until May 10.

■In Lutz, improvements continue at the Boulevard of the Roses and Lutz-Lake Fern Road intersection between rush hours until June 22.

TRAFFIC CONCERNS?

Are there local traffic or road issues that concern you? Construction you wonder about or hazards other drivers should know about? If so, contact reporter Harold Valentine at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.