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Causeway Boulevard Project 'Drops Business To Nothing'

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By RICH SHOPES

rshopes@tampatrib.com

Published: October 27, 2008

PALM RIVER - On Causeway Boulevard, customer traffic has plunged at Florida Discount Transmissions and half the usual number of tables are occupied at the Seafood Palace.

Small businesses on the 3.6-mile stretch between U.S. 41 and U.S. 301 say the $42 million widening of the causeway, now entering its 10th month, is hurting business. Trucks, piles of dirt, dust and a parade of orange traffic barrels are chasing away customers.

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 ran across the lot on Wednesday. Workers were installing storm-water drain pipes.

"A lot of our customers think they can't come in," said Leila Cuellar, who runs the business with her mom, Jackie Cuellar.

Down the road at Florida Discount Transmissions, 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.

The Department of Transportation project is supposed to help businesses by making the road safer, more attractive and more accessible to motorists who won't have to stop in the middle of the highway to make left turns.

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.

Ditches along the road will be 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," DOT spokeswoman Kris Carson said, adding the department sympathizes with their plight.

She said blue signs identifying each business have been planted along the construction zone and, 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.

"It looks like they're a month ahead of schedule to get the incentive bonus. It looks good at this point," DOT spokeswoman Marian Scorza said.

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

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