The Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Segment A widening projecting, for months just a long procession of work trucks, dirt and orange barrels, is now steamrolling towards completion, as drivers begin to notice the new lanes expected to relieve traffic on New Tampa’s congested main thoroughfare.
Segment A, which extends 3.5 miles from Bearss Ave. to Palm Springs Blvd. and has included the widening of bridges over Cypress Creek, is taking shape. The two additional lanes on each side of the road are now visible north and southbound, primarily between Cypress Preserve Dr. and Tampa Palms Blvd. in Tampa Palms (see pictures).
Drivers can now experience all four lanes of BBD northbound from Tampa Palms Blvd.
South of Tampa Palms Blvd., the widening is still taking form as the new lanes-to-be are visible but unpavedjust, although local businesses may soon be rejoicing. And, while there is still construction all along BBD, driveways into restaurants like Acropolis and Mr. Dunderbak’s and further north at businesses like Panda Hugs Child Care Learning Center which have been obstructed or closed for some of the last 10 months, are all but completed.
“There appears to be a light at the tunnel now,’’ said Panda Hugs’ Tom Driscoll. “It’s getting easier day by day. Now, they open it up for a week or two, then block it again. I have no reason other than my gut feeling to say this, but hopefully by the end of June it will be pretty much done.”
The $55.8-million segment is still on target for completion in August, says Jason Boulnois of the Hillsborough County Public Works Dept. Hillsborough’s largest current transportation project, BBD has required 33,000 feet of storm pipe and drainage inlets, 66,000 feet of curb and gutter, 24,600 linear feet of sidewalk, 3,450 feet of water main with 15 fire hydrants and 18,400 feet of wastewater pipe to date.
The remaining work in Segment A to be completed is finishing construction of the median and southbound inside lanes, landscaping, final grading and signs and pavement markings.
Segment D Update
With Segments B and C already completed, the final segment to wrap up the project to convert BBD from a four- and six-lane divided roadway to an eight-lane divided roadway to relieve the area’s infamous traffic congestion is Segment D, a 1.44-mile section stretching from Pebble Creek Blvd. to County Line Rd.
The least expensive portion of BBD to expand, Segment D is a $24.7-million project that is expected to be completed by July 2018 by Prince Construction, LLC.
The first major work has recently begun in the Wharton High area, installing the main stormwater culverts, which are the large cement tubes visible to travelers on BBD.
Now that school is out for the summer, workers may have an easier time with construction. But, the work schedule is unaffected by the school schedule. “Unfortunately, there is limited ability to change the sequence of operations for the work near the high school,’’ Boulnois says. “However, we are in constant contact with the school administration and will schedule work that interferes with traffic with minimal impact to school traffic.”
He adds that the next several months will focus on the installation of underground drainage and utilities. After that, construction of the new southbound lanes will begin, and will begin to show visible progress to BBD travelers.
