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BY RICHARD SHOPES
of The Tampa Tribune
Commuters using the Crosstown Expressway’s elevated lanes won’t have to worry about truck traffic.
Signs posted the next few weeks will direct trucks with more than two axles to the crosstown’s lower lanes.
The Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority said it didn’t make sense to open the reversible highway to truck traffic. The 15-mile, three-lane road is meant to aid morning and afternoon commuters to downtown Tampa. It’s set to open in late August.
Tractor trailers, cement trucks and other large vehicles will have access to the crosstown’s four lower lanes. That leaves buses, delivery trucks and light moving trucks with freedom to drive the three upper ones.
The speed limit for both levels will be 60 mph, but drivers on the elevated lanes will make better time because tolls will be electronic, using SunPass.
“Physically separating the trucks will help the traffic move more efficiently,†interim Executive Director Ralph Mervine. “We don’t get that many heavy trucks, anyway.â€
Last month, 51,860 vehicles used the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway. Of that, perhaps 3-4 percent were heavy trucks, said Mervine.
George Burns of Short Moves Inc. said the restrictions could help his drivers because the elevated crosstown will thin out traffic on the lower lanes.
“It’s going to help everybody. Thank God for SunPass,†he said.
Good move on the part of the expressway authority. Trucks are a nuicense on any roadway and this will make the commute safer and more pleasurable.
THE ELEVATED HIGHWAY WILL BE AN EXCELLENT HURRICANE EVACUATION ROUTE WHEN THE “BIG ONE” hits.....
I heard a radio station say that the elevated would be open only during “rush hour” morning and afternoon !!! IS THAT RIGHT ???
WHAT ABOUT THE NOON HOUR RUSH TO GET LUNCH ??
I hope they are wrong...How about one lane open each way during the non-rush hour times ?? Pleas tell me the facts ! Tom
Once again, this just emphasize that the upper level is not safe.
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Posted by Michael MacQueen, Tampa on 06/28 at 10:24 PM
Nobody said anything about airplanes?