Major FDOT road project begins and others are planned for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

I-75 widening project begins: A $95 million project to widen I-75 to six/eight lanes from Fowler Avenue to State Road 56 began yesterday. The project will add one lane in each direction, as well as auxiliary lanes near interchanges to enhance safety and reduce congestion along this major north-south highway. When finished, I-75 will be at least three lanes in each direction throughout Hillsborough County and up to north of State Road 54 in Pasco County. Work is expected to be completed by spring 2016. FDOT Five Year Tentative Work Program: The following local information was presented Thursday in the FDOT, District Seven, Five-Year Tentative Work Program Public Hearing for Fiscal Years July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2017.  Note:  Planned projects for Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, & Hillsborough were covered.  The projects listed below are the only ones located in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel: Wesley Chapel: Widening of SR 54 from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road-- Right of Way advanced from 2015 to 2014  Construction added for Fiscal Year 2016. New Tampa: Bruce B. Downs widening from Bearss to Palm Springs Blvd.  Construction--Fiscal Year 2015 Bruce B. Downs widening from Pebble Creek to County Line Road --Right of Way added for 2014 and Construction for FY 2017 Cross Creek Blvd. widening from Cory Lake Dr. to Morris Bridge Rd.--Construction FY 2013 The public hearing/webinar was the first step in the process.  Next will be the executive review, followed by a state wide hearing before it is adopted on July 1, 2012. Public comment/input is encouraged and can be made via mail to:  Donald Skelton, District 7 Secretary, FDOT, 11201 N. McKinley Dr., Tampa, FL 33612 or e-mail:  Donald.Skelton@dot.state.fl.us before October 24, 2011.

New Tampa MPO meeting & survey about Bruce B. Downs

The Metropolitan Planning Organization will hold another meeting in New Tampa, seeking input about the widening of BBD (6 lanes with light rail vs. 8 lanes without) from Bearss to Palm Springs Boulevard.  (Note:  This is NOT the portion that is currently under construction.)  The meeting will be held on April 19, 2010 at  6:30 p.m. at Chiles Elementary School (16541 W Tampa Palms Boulevard in New Tampa).  See video below and take this BBD survey:  http://bit.ly/drxp2h

The Bruce B. Downs Giant Slalom!

It's quite a challenge navigating the Bruce B. Downs giant slalom from Palm Springs Blvd. to Pebble Creek in New Tampa these days!

One More Traffic Light on Bruce B. Downs in Wesley Chapel

Since the opening of The Shops at Wiregrass, trying to exit The Shoppes at New Tampa to proceed south on Bruce B. Downs has become more challenging. Today, Kevin Wiatrowski of the Tampa Trib reports that a new traffic light will be installed on Bruce B. Downs at Williamsburg Drive. This will allow residents of Williamsburg and shoppers at the "Publix" shopping center to be able to exit south onto BBD without the severe risk that exists today.

New Tampa's Flyover Ramp Opens

New Tampa's flyover ramp opened today with one lane. An additional lane is expected to open later this year.

Bruce B. Downs - I75 Flyover Ramp To Open Next Week

New Tampa commuters who take Bruce B. Downs to I-75 Southbound will be happy to hear that the new Flyover Ramp is scheduled to open on July 18th! NOTE: Opening date delayed due to heavy rains this past week.

I - 75 Detour at Bruce B. Downs Update

Both directions of I-75 will be closed over Bruce B. Downs Boulevard between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. Friday (January 18) night and Sunday through Friday (January 20-25) nights as crews erect bridge girders.

DETOUR: Traffic will exit at Bruce B. Downs/CR 581 Exit 270, cross Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, and re-enter the interstate using the entrance ramp. Traffic will be slow in both directions of I-75 approaching this interchange, and motorists on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard will have lengthy delays as priority will be given to I-75 traffic crossing Bruce B. Downs. Law officers will handle traffic control where the ramps intersect Bruce B. Downs.

Widening Schedule of Bruce B. Downs in New Tampa

There’s probably not a community within any metropolitan area of the world that doesn’t want better roads. New Tampa and Wesley Chapel are no different and it seems this month all the news is about improving local roads which will be welcome by all. Of course, the timing is never soon enough!

Today, Laura Kinsler of the Tampa Tribune reports on the future widening of Bruce B. Downs in New Tampa to 8 lanes. It looks like BBD in New Tampa “eventually” will be widened in 3 sections:

Section 1: From Palm Springs Drive to Pebble Creek Drive. Start Date: Winter 2009? Completion in 2011?

Section 2: Pebble Creek Dr. to County Line Rd. Start Date: 2011—completion 2013?

Section 3: Bearss to Palm Springs Dr. Start date and completion “to be determined”?

Get used to the photo attached to this post. Given all the planned roadwork in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, it may become our "community logo" for the next several years.

No mention lately of the “East-West Connector”, but it’s about time that we hear about another new delay in this troubled proposed New Tampa toll road connecting BBD to I-275!

Note: I simply add the ? on all planned completion dates!

I-75 Detour at Bruce B. Downs

(Photo of how the BBD Flyover Ramp will look when completed)

The previously announced detour on I-75 at Bruce B. Downs for January 11-13 has been changed. The I-75 detour at BBD will resume on Monday January 14th through January 17th from 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.

Bruce B. Down Closure at Night

Just a reminder about Bruce B. Downs being closed nights at I-75 starting tonight! Also: Click here for brief video.

Bruce B. Downs to be closed nights at I 75

Bruce B. Downs Boulevard (County Road 581) will be closed under I-75 from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. Monday through Friday nights (November 26-30) for bridge girder placement. No traffic will be able to pass under I-75. Motorists will be directed onto I-75 on either side of the interstate.

Just in case you don't remember what the construction is about, see photo below depicting future flyover ramp traveling south on Bruce B. Downs to access I-75 southbound.

Hillsborough gets no funding from Pasco for widening of BBD

Yesterday, the state gave its approval for the 5,000 acre Wiregrass development in Wesley Chapel. Pasco County will be receiving $579 million from the Wiregrass development for road improvements. Hillsborough County was hoping to get intervention at the state level for $28 million from Pasco to widen Bruce B. Downs, just south of the Hillsborough/Pasco border. The state essentially ignored the issue and Hillsborough was left holding an empty tin cup.

Pasco and Hillsborough County Boards to talk....

The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners wants some funding from Pasco County to pay for the widening of Bruce B. Downs from Pebble Creek to County Line Road (Hillsborough County), indicating that the 5,000 acre Wiregrass mall and residential community will significantly add to the daily trips on BBD. It sent a representative to the Pasco Board of County Commissioners’ meeting on July 17, 2007 with that message. That request fell on deaf ears.

Since then, the Hillsborough BOCC directed its staff to investigate the possibility of installing toll booths on Bruce B. Downs at the county border to help it with funding its widening. Staff is tentatively scheduled to report its findings to the Hillsborough BOCC on September 19, 2007. (I can’t wait to hear their report!) Update September 20, 2007--Note: This is now tentatively scheduled for October 3, 2007. Update: October 11, 2007---Rescheduled again! (I wonder why!)

In efforts to continue to ratchet up the pressure on Pasco to “cough up” some funding, Hillsborough also is seeking intervention from the state in ruling on the issue. From what I have read in the local papers, a determination should be made in the next couple of weeks.

Now, the two Boards have agreed to talk about the issue via a telephone conference perhaps as early as tomorrow.

I guess if all else fails, a good old fashioned rumble on County Line Road between the two boards may be in order.

Bruce B. Downs to become a Toll Road????

Well folks, the Hillsborough County Commissioners are having county staff investigate if they can install a toll booth on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) at County Line Road (CLR).

No, today is not April 1st!

Upset over not getting funding from Pasco County for the planned Hillsborough County widening of BBD from CLR to Pebble Creek, and worry over additional traffic that will come with the approved massive Wiregrass community in Pasco, Hillsborough Commissioners are thinking about using tolls for funding.

The vote was 5-2 in favor of finding out if a toll can be placed at the county border on BBD.

What's next? Customs and Immigration? This may give new meaning to the phrase: "South of the Border".