New Tampa I-75 Widening Way Ahead Of Schedule

By Matt Wiley

Although it may be holding up the completion of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. widening from Pebble Creek Blvd. in New Tampa south to Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms, the I-75 widening project between Fowler Ave. and S.R. 56 actually is ahead of schedule — unlike the widening of I-75 between S.R. 54 & S.R. 56.

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7 spokesman John McShaffrey says that the $95-million project, which Prince Contracting, LLC, began in October 2011 to widen the 11.4-mile section of the interstate from four lanes to six lanes — and eight lanes near the interchanges — is cruising right along.

“The whole project is well ahead of schedule,” McShaffrey explains. “If you go by (Prince’s) schedule, they’re more than 500 days ahead. It looks very likely that they are going to finish that job early, depending on how much rain we get.”

And, part of that project includes the new, widened overpasses above BBD, which could now be open to traffic in both directions in late November to early December, McShaffrey says.

“After that happens, (Prince) will take the temporary bridge out and do all of the BBD widening underneath,” McShaffrey explains. “There’s a lot that can’t be done (for the widening of BBD) right now because of the location of the support structures for the existing temporary bridge.”

I-75 Bridge Work Above BBD More Than 500 Days Ahead Of Schedule

By Matt Wiley

Construction is ahead of schedule on the I-75 widening project between Fowler Ave. and S.R. 56.
Construction is ahead of schedule on the I-75 widening project between Fowler Ave. and S.R. 56.

Although it may be holding up the completion of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. widening from Pebble Creek Blvd. in New Tampa south to Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms, the I-75 widening project between Fowler Ave. and S.R. 56 actually is ahead of schedule.

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District 7 spokesman John McShaffrey says that the $95-million project, which Prince Contracting, LLC, began in October 2011 to widen the 11.4-mile section of the interstate from four lanes to six lanes — and eight lanes near the interchanges — is cruising right along.Continue reading

New Tampa Burger King Robbed at Gunpoint

By Matt Wiley | NEW TAMPA

It’s never a good idea to open the door for strangers, as a manger at New Tampa’s Burger King (in the Trout Creek area) has learned the hard way.

A masked gunman enters the New Tampa Burger King on July 24.
A masked gunman enters the New Tampa Burger King on July 24.

According to the Tampa Police Department (TPD), just after midnight on July 24, the store manager of the New Tampa Burger King, located at 20590 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of Burger 21, heard the buzzer coming from the rear door just after closing.

TPD reports that the manager thought the person at the door was a member of a maintenance crew, and opened the door to a man loading a semi-automatic pistol.Continue reading

Shoppes At Morris Bridge Breaks Ground

Ground has been broken on a new 8,000-sq.-ft. retail plaza on Morris Bridge Rd., just north of Cross Creek Blvd.
Ground has been broken on a new 8,000-sq.-ft. retail plaza on Morris Bridge Rd., just north of Cross Creek Blvd.

By Matt Wiley

Construction has begun on the Shoppes at Morris Bridge, a new medical and retail plaza located on the west side of Morris Bridge Rd., just north of Cross Creek Blvd.

The owner, Dr. Mohamad Saleh, a neurologist and New Tampa resident, will anchor the 8,000-sq.-ft. plaza with a third location for his practice, which will specialize in both neurology and wellness.

“It’s going to be nice and elegant,” Dr. Saleh explains. “We’re going to have an outside seating area and a gazebo.”

Dr. Saleh says that his practice will take up about 3,000 square feet of the new plaza, leaving about 5,000 square feet for other tenants. Construction, which began in May, is expected to be completed by January.

“The area is growing, so it’s an open invitation to anyone who wants to move in,” Dr. Saleh says of prospective tenants. “I’ve gotten calls from dentists, and even people hoping to bring a restaurant to the plaza.”

Dr. Saleh says there will be about four additional vacant spaces once he moves his practice in, each with between 1,200-1,500 sq. ft. of space, but can vary depending upon the size of the business or businesses that end up moving into the plaza.

This will be Dr. Saleh’s third location, with additional offices in both Brandon and Brooksville. But, he says, the New Tampa area is his home.

“We’ve been busy in Brandon and thought that our niche would do well in New Tampa,” Dr. Saleh says. “I’ve gotten several calls from interested parties, so far, but I’m in no rush.”

For more information, please call (352) 232-0884.

TECO Moving Power Lines For BBD Widening Project

Driving through Tampa Palms, it’s difficult to ignore the sound of saws cutting down branches along Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

TECO workers trim back the foliage along Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Tampa Palms.
TECO workers trim back the foliage along Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Tampa Palms.

It may be loud, but the intense trimming of trees along the roadway during the past several weeks is in preparation for the next segment of BBD widening that is expected to begin by early next year.

According to TECO (Tampa Electric Company), the utility company is trimming back foliage and preparing to move its existing power lines so that there will be enough room for

the project to widen BBD from four to eight lanes between Palm Springs Blvd. and E. Bearss Ave.Continue reading