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Road Construction Hits Causeway Blvd. Businesses Hard

Tribune photo by JIM REED

When finished in two years, the existing two-lane road will be turned into a four-lane divided highway between U.S. 41 and U.S. 301.

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By RICH SHOPES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 23, 2008

PALM RIVER - Businesses on Causeway Boulevard are struggling. Customer traffic has plunged at Florida Discount Transmissions and half the usual number of tables are occupied at the Seafood Palace.

Small businesses on that three-mile stretch between U.S. 41 and U.S. 301 say the $42.6 million widening of the causeway, now entering its 10th month, is hurting business. Trucks, piles of dirt, dust and a parade of orange barrels is chasing away customers, they say.

At the Seafood Palace, a lunch-only restaurant with outdoor seating, the entrance to the parking lot was ripped up and a six-inch-wide hose pulled across, as workers installed storm-water drain pipes.

"A lot of our customers think they can't come in," Leila Cuellar, who runs the business with her mom, Jackie Cuellar, said Wednesday. "It's been pretty bad the past few weeks."

Down the road at Florida Discount Transmissions, business is so slow the phones have stopped ringing, said Paula Tamboli, who runs the office. "People think we're not open. It has dropped our business down to nothing," she said.

"Some people drive past and they can't even see it," mechanic Larry Heffelfinger added.

The Department of Transportation project is supposed to help businesses by making the road safer and more accessible to customers.

When finished in two years, the existing two-lane road will be turned into a four-lane divided highway between U.S. 41 and U.S. 301, about 3.6 miles.

Ditches along the road will be closed in and replaced with a drainage system that includes pipes and retention ponds. Lighting is being installed on the south side of Causeway Boulevard and the railroad crossing will be replaced.

"I know that businesses are never thrilled with the construction," said DOT spokeswoman Kris Carson.

She said the department sympathizes with the plight of business owners, which is why it had blue signs identifying each business planted along the construction zone.

To accelerate the project, the state is offering general contractor Prince Contracting $2 million to finish by next November — a year early.

Carson said the project is progressing smoothly.

A few weeks ago, workers finished the intersections at U.S. 41 and U.S. 301.

At the U.S. 41 intersection, the asphalt was replaced with concrete. Other changes include double left-turn lanes, single right-turn lanes and two through lanes. An additional eastbound left-turn lane was added at U.S. 301.

New traffic signals and countdown pedestrian signals were added at both U.S. 41 and U.S. 301. A new traffic signal will be installed at Maydell Drive and the existing span-wire traffic signal will be replaced with a mast-arm traffic signal at 78th Street.

"It looks like they're a month ahead of schedule to get the incentive bonus. It looks good at this point. You never know if things change," DOT spokeswoman Marian Scorza said.

Reporter Rich Shopes can be reached at (813) 259-7633.

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