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Dale Mabry Repairs Loom

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By RICH SHOPES, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 7, 2008

For the thousands who drive on North Dale Mabry Highway every day, the Department of Transportation has some advice: Be prepared for delays.

Starting Jan. 14, the department will begin a long-awaited, $5.2 million resurfacing of Dale Mabry between Waters Avenue and Fletcher Avenue - about 3 miles. That means workers, orange barrels and lane closures. Work will last six months and happen at night for the most part, but early-morning drivers should expect delays.

Single-lane closures in the northbound direction will be scheduled from 8 p.m. to 10 a.m. and southbound from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m. Double-lane closures will occur northbound from midnight to 7 a.m. and southbound from 10:30 p.m. to 5:30 a.m.

"If you've driven in this area, you know the work needs to be done," DOT spokeswoman Kris Carson said. "It's rutted and potholed." About 75,000 vehicles use that stretch of road daily.

Detour This Week at I-75

Speaking of detours, there's another big one: Interstate 75 at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Starting Tuesday night, drivers on I-75 will be detoured to the exits at Bruce B. Downs then funneled back to I-75.

The detours, from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and lasting about a week, will allow workers to install girders for a new bridge to take motorists from westbound Bruce B. Downs to southbound I-75.

1 More Reason to Hate Cell Phones

A University of Utah research team found that drivers who yak on cell phones cause congestion because they drive sluggishly and delay drivers behind them. The average person's commute is longer because of drivers on cell phones, said psychology professor Dave Strayer, who led the research team.

The team is set to present its findings Wednesday during the Transportation Research Board's annual meeting in Washington.

Previous research by Strayer found hands-free cell phones are no less dangerous while driving than the hand-held models, and that when young adults drive and use cell phones, they have the reaction times of senior citizens.

Hooters Trolley Might Be Replaced

Tampa was left without a lunchtime trolley when the Hooters trolley made its last downtown-to-Channelside run Dec. 28.

That has the Tampa Downtown Partnership thinking about a replacement. The economic development group plans to approach hotels and retailers about sponsoring midday trolleys.

"We're hoping people come to downtown, park once and use the trolley to get around," said Karen Kress, the partnership's director of transportation.

Hooters was paying about $1,600 a week to run two trolleys.

Help With Signal Needed

Denise Horton of Tampa recently asked whether the southbound left-turn lane on Sheldon Road to Linebaugh Avenue could be lengthened to hold more cars. She also asked that the light cycle be checked.

"You often have to sit through three or four light cycles at peak travel times," she wrote.

The county has no plans to lengthen the turn lane, but county engineer Leigh Ann Pyron said a crew will check the intersection.

Got a traffic gripe? Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633 or rshopes@tampatrib.com.

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