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Work Closing Bruce B. Downs

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By RICH SHOPES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 26, 2007

Live Traffic Conditions | Behind The Wheel Blog

Bruce B. Downs Boulevard will be closed for several hours each of the next few days, but the closures will happen only at night and affect fewer commuters.

Workers will shut down both directions of the highway at Interstate 75 to allow for construction of a new bridge over the interstate.

The shutdowns will begin tonight and run through Friday. Detours in place from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. will direct motorists to exit ramps at I-75.

Drivers heading north on Bruce B. Downs can exit at I-75 south, continue to the Fletcher Avenue exit, then take I-75 north to Bruce B. Downs.

Southbound drivers can take the I-75 northbound ramp, drive to State Road 56 and then take I-75 south to Bruce B. Downs.

The detour will add 10 to 15 minutes to travel times, said state Department of Transportation spokesman John McShaffrey.

Bruce B. Downs is the main route for those going to and coming from northwest Hillsborough and southwest Pasco counties. The road carries about 60,000 vehicles on a typical weekday, but the vast majority of those trips come during daylight hours.

"The big challenge will be to get people through that area in the morning," he said, although most rush-hour commuters will be spared delays.

Construction of the flyover bridge, begun in March, could be wrapped up next summer, the DOT said. The detours will allow workers to install metal girders on the bridge.

The $41 million project is designed to eliminate the left turn at the southbound I-75 on-ramp. When it's completed, drivers heading south on Bruce B. Downs will be able to take the flyover directly to southbound I-75.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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