Year-Long Traffic Nightmare In Riverview Begins

Our local area is notorious for bad traffic. In fact, the greater Tampa area as a whole is the 11th worst in the country. If Gibsonton Drive or Brandon Boulevard is part of your daily commute, you know how bad traffic can get. As bad as traffic has been in the past, we are in for a long 2022 with the renovation of US 301.

Access to businesses, residents, and emergency vehicles to be maintained.

US 301 FDOT Construction

The Florida Department of Transportation is starting a much-needed construction project to improve sections of US 301. While that is great news, and the improvements should do wonders to decongest traffic and increase safety, it will close roads during construction.

Part of Bloomingdale Avenue has already been closed as the construction has begun. Bloomingdale Avenue from US 301 to Robert Tolle Road. Lane closures will be 24 hours per day through February 4th.

 

The good news for those that travel this section is that the contractor hired by FDOT for the road repairs, Ajax Paving Industries, is estimating the renovation of the Bloomingdale Avenue section to be complete in only 70 days. The repairs for this section will take place in two phases, and they will be replacing the asphalt with a durable concrete surface.

During the first 14 days of the construction, Bloomingdale between 301 and Robert Tolle Road will be closed. There will be detours around the construction using Providence Road, Gornto Lake Road, Lumsden Road, Boyette Road, and Bell Shoals Road. There have been and will continue to be large electronic signs letting drivers know where the construction is and which roads and sections of roads will be closed.

21.3 Million Dollar Project

The cost of the overall project is 21.3 million dollars. When completed, it will have redone U.S. 301 between Lake St. Charles Boulevard and Progress Boulevard/Bloomingdale Avenue. One great thing about this project is it is adding a sidewalk along the east side of US 301. In addition, it is widening the northbound I-75 ramp.

The FDOT provided the following additional information on the project:

• Additional improvements include:
  • removing and replacing the asphalt pavement with a durable concrete surface at the intersection of US 301 and Progress Boulevard/ Bloomindale Avenue
  • adding a sidewalk along the east side of US 301widening the northbound I-75 on-ramp from US 301
  • widening the northbound I-75 on-ramp from US 301

The full length of the project is just 1.5 miles. But, with all of the challenges of this stretch of road, it will take a full year plus to complete this project. This full project is expected to be completed by early 2023.

Other Road Projects And Lane Closures

US-301 is not the only road currently under construction. There are several other major road repair projects currently going on to help improve roads and decrease traffic. Here are the current road closers:

CR 580

There is a project to widen the road from SR 39A (Paul Buchman Highway to Park Road. There will be occasional road closures from Sunday, January 23rd to Saturday, January 29th from 7 am-5 pm.

MacDill Avenue

The Traffic Management System for the City of Tampa is undergoing a 38 million dollar renovation. The project is upgrading 402 signals and installing 98 miles of new fiber conduit along with other communication upgrades. This will cause the following  lane closures on MacDill Avenue:

• MacDill Avenue will be closed from Morrison Avenue to Chestnut Street from Monday, January 24th through January 27th from 9 am to 3 pm (northbound only)
• Monday, January 24, and Tuesday, January 25 from 9 pm to 6 am. (northbound only)
• MacDill Avenue from Morrison Avenue to Euclid Avenue will have lane closures with flagging: Monday, January 24 and Thursday, January 27 from 9 am to 3 pm. (northbound only

In addition, as part of this project, Waters Avenue from Amenia Avenue to Nebraska Avenue will have lane closed from Monday, January 24th to Saturday, January 29th from 9 am-3 pm (eastbound only)

US 41 (Tamiami Trail) from 15th Ave to Bullfrog Creek

US41 is undergoing a repaving project. The project involved 8.5 miles of road in Apollo Beach and Ruskin. The total cost of the project is $25.6 million.  It will also add a sidewalk on the west side of US 41.

There will be closures on US 41 from south of 15th Avenue to Falls Boulevard: Sunday, January 23 through Friday, January 28 from 8 pm to 6 am.

I-275

I-275 is undergoing a capacity improvements project from north of I-1 to north Us92 (Hillsborough Avenue). The project covers 2.5 miles at a cost of $85.3 million.

There will be lane closures on I-275 from north of I-4 interchange to north of Hillsborough Avenue from Sunday, January 23 through Thursday, January 27 from 9 pm to 6:30 am.

SR 582 (Fowler Avenue)

There is an intersection improvement project for SR582. This is a $2.1 million dollar project that is expected to be completed by this summer. It includes modifications to curbs, pedestrian islands, and medians. There will also be installations of new pedestrian signals, ramps, and intersection lighting.

SR 582 (Fowler Avenue) at 22nd Street will have east-bound closures from Monday, January 24 through Friday, January 28 from 7 am to 3 pm. The west bond closure will be  Monday, January 24 through Friday, January 28 from 10 am to 6 pm.

2022 will be a year with a lot of road construction and lane closures. However, these repairs and upgrades are much needed for our area and should lead to safer, less traffic congested roads. Make sure to give yourself extra time on your daily commutes and check on the FDOT website to stay up-to-date on all lane closures.