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Median Paves Way For Interstate 75 Traffic Relief

News Channel 8 photo by INDRIA LEVINE

Crews are working around the clock to open up Interstate 75.

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By NEIL JOHNSON

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 9, 2008

Traffic congestion at Interstate 75 and U.S. 301 in Manatee County should be alleviated during today's morning rush hour after workers paved parts of the highway median Sunday.

The new traffic pattern bypasses the southbound bridge damaged Wednesday after a tanker plunged off the overpass and exploded. The paved median allows drivers to cross the median and use two lanes of the existing northbound bridge.

That will leave two lanes for drivers heading north, said Cindy Clemmons-Adente, a Florida Department of Transportation spokeswoman.

The median was paved about 6:15 p.m. Sunday.

On Sunday morning, workers opened one lane of U.S. 301 in each direction at I-75.

Opening U.S. 301 should help the traffic problems somewhat, the DOT spokeswoman said.

One median crossover will be north of U.S. 301 and one south of the Manatee 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 of Fort Myers for the job at a cost of $1.7 million. The work 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.

DOT officials were concerned the weather would delay construction of the median crossovers, but workers managed to complete it on time.

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

Reporter Ray Reyes contributed to this report. Reporter Neil Johnson can be reached at njohnson@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7731.

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