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Most Recent Entries
- Water Main Break Still Closing Portion Of U.S. 41
- John’s Pass Channel Closures and Bridge Closures
- Black Friday Shopping Travel Guide
- Thanksgiving Commute Reminders
- FDOT Construction Update - Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties
- SR-54 Public Hearing
- Tampa Airport Interchanges Construction Project Update
- Driving in Fog
- Ironman 70.3 and Its Traffic Impact this Saturday
- November Construction Update
- Hillsborough County Launches County US 301 Construction on Thursday
- Himes Avenue Construction
- Railroad Construction Will Close a Portion of SR-60 in Hillsborough County
- What's Your Tastykake?
- I-75 Construction Closures
Monthly Archives
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US-301 remains shut down in Hillsborough County due to a chemical leak near the Alafia River Bridge. All North and Southbound lanes are closed between Gibsonton and Riverview Drives, as officials work to clean-up the region. Early reports from fire crews on scene indicate this closure may be in affect through mid-afternoon Tuesday.
Significant delays are to be expected in the region. Drivers who typically use roadways East of US-301 including Balm Riverview and Boyette Roads will be most severly impacted. Alternate routes include I-75 which parallels US-301 to the West.
Additionally, as a result of this leak, Riverview Elementary School will be closed today. Riverview Elementary students should report to Spoto High School for classes.
The right lane of eastbound State Road 60 (Adamo Drive) will be closed between 29th Street and 32nd Street from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday (November 12-16). The closures are being used for equipment and truck access for box culvert cleaning work.
I could not let today go by without wishing our freedom fighters, past and present, a special thank you. One of my dear friends from high school is currently serving overseas in Iraq. I know the sacrifices that are made everyday by our brave military men and women. Please know your service is greatly appreciated.
If you follow this blog, you may remember little Mason. Earlier this year, Mason’s Mom, Amy, emailed me about how Mason is already a loyal Channel 8 viewer. Well, Mason recently turned 1 and I had to show you how cute he is… Amy, I think Mason will definitely break some hearts one day down the road!!!!
Cake, anyone????
Happy 1st Birthday Mason!
For drivers along Dale Mabry Highway, construction crews will now be a common sight between Sevilla Street and Kennedy Boulevard. The Florida DOT will repair and replace the concrete and asphalt surfaces to create a smoother ride. Additionally, the contractor will widen the Bay-to-Bay intersection to fix the curve in the road.
Construction began this week and will run through November 2008, primarily overnight. FDOT officials say they will be particularly conscious of the noise level of their work, given that the area is very residential.
Pinellas County is gearing up for this weekend’s Ironman Competition on Saturday, November 10th, and that means detours for PSTA riders. From 5 AM to 4 PM,
Routes 19, 52, 58, 59, 60, 62,66, 67, 74, 76, 79, 80, & 82 will be detoured, disrupted, and delayed due to the race. Roads will close and re-open throughout the day, so there are no set detours. PSTA recommends avoiding these areas if at all possible. For more information on race day, call the InfoLine (727) 540-1900.
In recent months, we’ve been reporting about changes in personal injury protection or PIP. After receiving dozens of viewer emails, I sat down with Triple AAA’s Toni Germinario to discuss the changes and who may fall into the Legislative PIP gap.
AR: “In simplest terms, PIP for drivers means?”
TG: “PIP for drivers means that if you are involved in an accident and you are injured, regardless of who is at fault, your own insurance company pays for the medical bills.”
PIP had been mandatory for drivers in Florida until October 1st of this year, when lawmakers choose not to renew this policy. However, in a special session after the October 1st deadline, Tallahassee voted to once again bring back pip effective January 1st, 2008.
TG: “If your policy renewed without it then you are going to be getting it back January 1st. If your policy renewed with it, then it is going to stay on there.”
Bottom line, if you have or are renewing your auto insurance policy between October 1st and December 31st, your policy probably does not include PIP, something you will once again have to carry come the first of the year.
TG: “Most companies had to get their renewals out 45 days in advance so they had to renew it without the coverage… come January 1st they have to put it back on which means that there is another bill that has to go out.”
Toni urges consumers to talk with their insurance providers for specific questions about your PIP coverage.
Toni also recommends drivers consider supplemental insurance to protect against an uninsured motorist or depending on your health care coverage, long-term bodily injuries, since pip only pays 80% of your medical bills.
There is so much to the issue of PIP and how it specifically relates to you and your family. For more information, visit the following:
Florida Department of Financial Service:
http://www.fldfs.com/Consumers/literature/auto_guide/5_basic.html
http://www.myfloridacfo.com/
1-800-342-2762
AA Auto Club South: http://www.aaasouth.com
Selmon Crosstown Expressway customers will experience eastbound lane closures over US 41/50th Street and the CSX railroad crossing beginning at 7 tonight.
Crosstown drivers - Below I have posted some information related to lane closures beginining Monday evening:
Beginning at 7 pm on Monday, November 5, Selmon Crosstown Expressway customers will see lane closures on the Eastbound lanes over US 41 (50th Street) and the CSX railroad crossing.
This work is part of a larger project scheduled to replace bridge decking on six Selmon Crosstown Expressway bridges on the eastern side, lower level of the expressway. Users of the elevated lanes will not be affected, but drivers on the lower lanes (both eastbound and westbound directions) will go through the construction area between US 41 and Maydell Drive.
“There are no safety concerns with regard to the bridge structure,” authority spokeswoman Sue Chrzan said. “This is routine maintenance that’s been scheduled, and it’s time to do it.”
Originally expected to take a year, the $6.3 million project will take eight months or less because workers will repair all six bridges at once. The three bridges locations are Maydell Drive, US 41 (50th Street) and the CSX railroad crossing between the two.
In the construction area, one lane in each direction will be closed for the full length of the project. Additional periodic lane closures are expected on US 41 (50th Street) and Maydell Drive during the project.
“We’re trying to get this thing done with as little inconvenience to the customer as possible,” Chrzan said.
To avoid the construction area, drivers should consider using the Reversible Express Lanes (REL). To head into downtown Tampa, access to the REL is in Brandon from the Brandon Parkway or from the lower lanes of the Expressway at 78th Street.
The REL is an express route to Meridian Street in downtown Tampa. To continue west on the Expressway, drivers should take Meridian to Channelside and onto Brorein Street, which leads back to the lower lanes of the Expressway.
In the afternoon, to leave downtown, enter the REL on Meridian Street or from the lower lanes of the Expressway at the 34th Street entrance ramp. To exit the REL before Brandon, (for 301 and I-75) drivers should choose the ramp at 78th street which leads back down to the lower lanes of the Expressway.
In order to use the REL, drivers need a SunPass or a Toll by Plate account. Visit http://www.sunpass.com or call1.888.865.5352 for more information. SunPass can be used on any Florida toll facility.
Special thanks to the Lions Eye Institute for their hospitality. On Saturday night, I hosted the first annual Eye Ball, a Gala with Vision.
The Lions Eye Institute was established in 2005 to support outreach, education, treatment and research of sight-related issues. The Lions Eye Institute for Transplant & Research, Inc. is a non-profit charitable organization dedicated to the recovery, evaluation and distribution of eye tissue for transplantation, research and education. The eye institute is one of the largest in the world. Since its inception, CFLETB has brought the “Gift of Sight” to over 20,000 men, women and children worldwide.
For more information call The Lions Eye Institute or to donate to this amazing organization, log onto http://www.lionseyeinstitute.org/.
Hillsborough County drivers will see more orange cones and lane restrictions along one busy route.
As of Sunday night, crews began a six month resurfacing project along Fowler Avenue between 30th Street and Riverhills Drive. Additionally, new sidewalks will be constructed in that region.
Road crews will be out around the clock with the exception of peak rush hours times between 7-9:00 a.m. 4-7:00 p.m.
The project is expected to cost 6.5 million dollars and should be completed in early May.
A fatal crash involving a gas tanker truck and SUV has forced officials to shut down Causeway Boulevard in Hillsborough County.
Causeway Boulevard remains closed in both directions (East and Westbound) between US-41 and 78th Street. The crash officially occurred at 54th Street.
A female driver of the involved SUV was killed in the collision. We have not been able to confirm the condition of the tanker driver at this time.
Both vehicles remain on the highway as of 5:30a.m. Wreckers have been called to the scene to clear the vehicles. Officials are also in the region conducting an extended investigation of the crash site. They are expected to remain along Causeway Boulevard for a significant portion of this morning’s rush.
In the meantime, drivers should plan for delays in the area. Alternate routes include Madison Avenue to the South of Causeway Boulevard and Adamo Drive to the North.
*** AS OF 9:20 A.M., ALL EAST AND WESTBOUND LANES OF CAUSEWAY BOULEVARD HAVE BEEN CLEARED AND ARE ONCE AGAIN OPEN TO TRAFFIC.
The dedicated SunPass Lane at the West Toll Plaza (near Willow Street - westbound) will be closed on Tuesday, October 30 beginning at 10:00 am for maintenance work. The lane is scheduled to be reopened to traffic by mid-afternoon. Other lanes will remain open for SunPass and cash customers.
Here’s a note for Manatee and Sarasota County drivers for tomorrow:
University Parkway (East of I-75) will be closed on Tuesday, October 30, 2007 from 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. for overhead sign installation.
Local detours will be in place while crews are on scene.
Adamo Drive drivers… watch for closures during your commute:
The right lane of eastbound State Road 60 (E. Adamo Drive) will be closed between 29th Street and 32nd Street from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday (October 29-November 2). The closures are being used for equipment and truck access for box culvert cleaning work.
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