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Widening Of U.S. 301 In Riverview Area May Begin In Fall

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By RICH SHOPES

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 23, 2008

South Hillsborough and Riverview drivers won't see relief on U.S. 301 for a few years, but they will at least see progress this fall.

The county and state last week approved a $61 million contract to widen a 6-mile stretch of the highway from Gibsonton Drive south to County Road 672.

Barring last-minute objections, final approval by the state Department of Transportation could come next month, with construction starting in the fall.

The three-year project was supposed to begin last year but was hampered by delays in assembling the funding and right of way. The project includes a mix of state, county and developer funds that didn't completely come together until March.

Still, when all 12 bids were analyzed, the winning contract came in 33 percent lower than what the state and county were willing to pay, about $83 million.

Increased competition drove down the bids, project manager Gordana Jovanovic said. The widening, from four to six lanes with a median, was the only major project in Hillsborough to accept bids at the time. About 29,000 drivers use the road daily.

Any money left over might go to a related project to start in 2010: the $50 million widening of U.S. 301, from County Road 672 south to Sun City Center Boulevard.

I-75 Bridge Returning To Normal

This is a big week for folks, such as me, who regularly head south on Interstate 75.

Traffic is now able to cross the new southbound bridge at U.S. 301 in Manatee County. No more detours. Traffic should be restored to three lanes in each direction by Tuesday; by Wednesday, access from U.S. 301 to southbound I-75 will be reopened.

On June 4, when a tanker truck exploded, shutting down the bridge, DOT officials were predicting it would take six weeks to build a new one. It ended up taking less than three.

We're Driving Less, Study Says

Here's a study that might shock Tampa's car-crazy culture:

A report by Houston-based consultants Cambridge Energy Research Associates says that Americans are driving less. The firm cites sticker shock at the pump as the reason we're spending less time behind the wheel.

"U.S. gasoline demand will likely decline in 2008 for the first time in more than 17 years," said the report, which was released last week.

Based on all the gridlock across Tampa, it sure doesn't seem like we're driving less.

Avion Park Impact: Time Will Tell

Susie Wortham of Northdale asked about the impact that Avion Park of Westshore, the hotel, retail and office complex under construction at Obrien and Spruce streets, will have on commuters.

"I work ... in the West Shore area and take Obrien to get to the Veterans Expressway. What on earth is going to happen to that already packed street?" she wrote.

The short answer is: Obrien is going to be even more packed.

The DOT has plans to widen Spruce early next year and to remove the traffic light on State Road 60 where Memorial Highway and the Veterans Expressway meet. That will alleviate traffic on Spruce, DOT spokesman John McShaffrey said.

As for Obrien, the city apparently does not have plans to widen it, McShaffrey said.

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

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