By Matt Wiley
New Tampa drivers are now just months away from being able to rejoice, as the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. bottlenecks under the I-75 overpasses are one step closer to becoming a faint traffic memory, although they still will be around for the next few months.
According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), two of the new northbound lanes of the widened I-75 overpass above BBD opened to traffic on October 25. As we previously reported, the overpass-widening project was holding up the widening of BBD underneath the overpasses, where there are still only two lanes in each direction between Palm Springs Blvd. and Doña Michele Dr.
FDOT spokesman John McShaffrey says that the temporary Acrow bridge—which was used to divert traffic during the construction of the new overpasses—will have to be removed before the widening of BBD between just north of Commerce Palms Blvd. north to Dona Michelle Dr. can really pick up steam. McShaffrey says that the contractor, Prince Contracting, LLC, plans to have the bridge removed by early December, which it will then have to clean, disassemble and return to FDOT for use in other projects around the state.
Currently, the foundations for the temporary bridge are preventing the BBD widening construction from beginning.
“Most of the (BBD) work is expected to be completed by late spring to early summer of 2014,” McShaffrey says.
Although the new lanes on I-75 are open, construction is continuing on the northbound BBD entrance and exit ramps, which are not complete. The exit from I-75 is now located a little further north than before and the merge lane onto I-75 from BBD has a temporarily short merge lane, but will expand as construction continues.
“The (I-75-widening project from Fowler Ave. to south of S.R. 56) is currently well ahead of schedule and tracking towards completion by the fall of 2014,” McShaffrey says.
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