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U.S. 301 At I-75 Partially Re-Opens; I-75 Patch Possible Today

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 8, 2008

Workers this morning opened one lane of U.S. 301 in each direction at Interstate 75 where a tanker plunged off the interstate bridge and exploded on Wednesday.

The southbound lanes of I-75 remain closed at exit 224, but crews hired by the state Department of Transportation hope to finish work today that will allow drivers heading south to use part of the bridge.

Opening U.S. 301 should help the traffic problems somewhat, said Cindy Clemmons-Adente, a DOT spokeswoman.

The DOT's goal is to finish paving parts of the interstate median, allowing southbound drivers to cross the median and use two lanes of the existing northbound bridge. That will leave two lanes for drivers heading north.

One median crossover will be north of U.S. 301 and one south of the river.

Crews are still removing debris and contaminated soil. Flames from the exploding tanker created so much heat that the southbound bridge will have to be replaced.

The DOT hired Zep Construction, Inc. of Fort Myers to do the work at a cost of $1.7 million. The job is expected to take six weeks.

Clemmons-Adente said opening part of U.S. 301 and getting the crossovers will help, but there still will be delays.

The weather may not cooperate with efforts to finish the median crossovers. The National Weather Service is forecasting a 40 percent chance for thunderstorms after 2 p.m.

Raymond A. Neumann, the tanker truck driver, died Saturday afternoon at Tampa General Hospital, a family member said.

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