By HAROLD VALENTINE

The danger of pedestrians crossing Bayshore Boulevard is nothing new.

But most who use the scenic thoroughfare’s walkway will probably agree – crossing the road is enough to make pedestrians feel like the video game character Frogger.

With so few crosswalks on the road, many individual pedestrians trickle across the road at various points. However, drivers may notice a cluster of jaywalkers underneath the Davis Islands Bridge between 3 and 3:30 p.m. That’s when construction crews working at Tampa General Hospital, 2 Columbia Drive, change shifts.

Many of the construction workers, employees of Skanska USA Building, 4950 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 600, park on roads north of Bayshore Boulevard, such as South Plant Avenue. As a result, dozens of workers jaywalk to get to and from their cars, even though the bridge above them offers safe passage with a sidewalk and a barrier from traffic.

When asked why, the workers, who all refused to give their names, had a simple answer: it’s easier.

One worker said he would feel safer using the bridge, but “I climb stairs all day at work,” he said.

Hospital director of communications John Dunn said the hospital has not received any complaints about jaywalking, even though the activity sometimes interrupts the flow of traffic on that winding stretch of road.

“They’re not our employees, so we have never addressed it with them,” Dunn said. “In the same way, we don’t tell our employees how to behave when they go home either. I mean, they are adults.”

Judy Allen, manager at 345 Bayshore Condominiums, also has not fielded any complaints. The condos sit near the popular jaywalking area, but “nobody has noticed the screeching of tires,” she said.

Allen, who likes to sit on a bench across the street, admits crossing Bayshore at that location can be tricky for her, but added her residents have had no traffic issues with the workers so far.

Tampa Police Department media relations specialist Andrea Davis said her records show there is no indication jaywalking has affected traffic in the area. She said there has been only one accident there so far in 2006, and it was not pedestrian related.

Despite the lack of complaints, Fred Hames, the executive vice president for Skanska’s Tampa office, said he is willing to look into the situation to increase the safety of his workers and the general public. But because the issue has not previously been brought to his attention, he said he would have to “sit down and further discuss the matter.”

He said most of his workers park in a parking garage, where buses shuttle most of the workers to and from the work site. However, he said some park elsewhere.

For those concerned over the matter, Skanska’s Tampa office can be reached at 282-7100.