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Roadwork To Close Selmon Lanes Next Month

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By RICH SHOPES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 4, 2007

Updated: 09/03/2007 11:57 pm

Read Rich's Traffic Blog

TAMPA - Time is creeping up on the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway.

The toll road, built in the 1970s, showed its age in March when a concrete chunk the size of a toaster fell onto a downtown parking lot near Jefferson Street.

In June, workers were forced to close part of the highway to repair a crack in the concrete road surface near the Jefferson on-ramp.

Each problem required a repair. Now, the state Department of Transportation and the Tampa-Hillsborough County Expressway Authority are turning to a long-term solution.

"There's no safety concern. It's just time to do it," authority spokeswoman Sue Chrzan said.

Starting next month, workers will begin preparations to replace the concrete decking on six bridges that cross U.S. 41, Maydell Drive and a CSX rail line.

The elevated lanes won't be affected, but drivers on the lower lanes will see delays west of the main toll plaza.

The work will mean closing a lane in each direction so workers can rip up the concrete surface and pour new deck panels. There will be additional lane closings on U.S. 41 and Maydell Drive.

There's a sliver of good news, though. Originally expected to take a year, the $6.3 million project will take eight months or less because workers will repair all six bridges at once and work around the clock, seven days a week.

"We're trying to get this thing done with as little inconvenience to the customer as possible," Chrzan said.

Demolition will start in late October or early November.

Chrzan said officials aren't sure which lanes will be closed first. A meeting with the contractor and the DOT to map out the project's details is set for Wednesday.

After the work is finished, the DOT will turn to the Selmon's elevated section in downtown Tampa, known as the viaduct. Work on the $72 million project will occur in the 2009 fiscal year, starting Oct. 1, 2008.

DOT inspectors have been monitoring the Selmon's bridges and viaduct for years and planned to replace the concrete surface after construction was completed on the Selmon's elevated, reversible lanes in 2006.

The problem dates to the mid-1970s, when the toll road was being built.

Engineers thought they would get stronger overpasses by pouring the concrete in two layers instead of a solid slab.

Years later, they learned that vibrations from trucks can cause cracks that allow water to penetrate the layers, causing more cracking and holes.

Inspectors have seen evidence of the problem over the years.

In June, they noticed cracks and dripping water under the Selmon on the eastbound side near the Jefferson Street on-ramp. Workers had to shut down a lane to make repairs.

In March, also near Jefferson Street, the chunk of concrete fell from the westbound lanes, landing in a parking lot. Again, workers were forced to shut down a lane.

Officials say the bridges pose no danger to motorists.

"This is a routine maintenance that's been scheduled, and it's time to do it," Chrzan said.

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

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