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Hillsborough To Study Fletcher Avenue Widening

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By RICH SHOPES | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 15, 2009

TAMPA - Hillsborough County next month will begin a $4 million study into the possible widening of Fletcher Avenue between Interstates 75 and 275.

The study to expand the road from four lanes to six with raised concrete medians comes as planners anticipate traffic on Fletcher to balloon 40-50 percent over the next 16 years.

By 2025, 59,000 cars a day are expected between Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and 56th Street and 70,000 per day between Florida and Nebraska avenues.

"It's a highly congested road already," project manager Tom Mueller said.

The project has not been funded and could run as high as $150 million or $200 million, with much of that tab for land acquisition for right of way.

Some portions of the six-mile stretch, such as from Bruce B. Downs to I-275, might be deemed impractical to widen because businesses and other properties are too close to the road.

The final price tag will depend on how much of the road can be widened, as well as alternatives such as whether it makes more sense to divert traffic to nearby streets.

In addition to the widening, the 18- to 24-month study will give officials estimates for installing new sidewalks, traffic signals, medians and traffic management equipment.

The county is set to select a consultant for the study some time next month.

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

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