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The Deck Panel Replacement project on the Selmon Crosstown Expressway is nearly complete!  Both westbound lanes from Maydell Drive to 50th Street (US 41) are now open.  The eastbound lanes, including the 50th Street on-ramp, are scheduled to re-open Monday, February 25, 2008. 

While travel lanes will be cleared of construction closures, drivers will still see roving crews during off-peak hours as detail work is being finished.  These crews are expected to wrap-up work by March 1, 2008.

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If utility tractors, agricultural tractors, loader backhoes, telescopic forklifts, rough terrain forklifts, forklifts and excavators make your business run, you may want to head over to Davenport this week.

Beginning Tuesday, thousands of bidders from every state and 16 countries will gather at Ritchie Brothers’ auction of heavy equipment.  It’s the largest of its kind.

The auction site spans more than 100 acres near the intersection of I-4 and U.S. Hwy 27 in eastern Polk County.  Watch for heavy volume during the five-day auction on both of these thoroughfares.  Gates open at 8 a.m.

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Tired of the clunky Sunpass transponder on your window shield?  Mini is the word! 

Beginning this July, a smaller, cheaper Sunpass will be available for drivers who pay tolls in advance and use the no-stop toll lanes on Florida’s Turnpike and other toll roads.

The SunPass Mini self-adhesive sticker is about the size of a credit card.  State officials say it will cost $4.95. 

While the current, larger Sunpass will still work, the mini has several advantages, including anti-theft.  If someone tries to peel-off your Mini, it will break. 

Turnpike officials have not set a minimum balance for the device and are exploring ways to invoice drivers, similar to your monthly utility bill.

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Have you heard about the Hannah Montana controversy?

Consumer Reports is frowning on teen queen, Miley Cyrus, her famous Dad, Billy Ray for not wearing their seat belts while riding in the back seat of a Range Rover in her Disney blockbuster 3-D movie, “Hannah Montana/ Miley Cyrus: Best of Both Worlds Concert Tour.”

Why should we care?  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in about 55 percent of passenger vehicle fatalities in 2006 (the latest data available), the occupants were not wearing seat belts.  Even worse, in the 13- to 15-year-old age group, that percentage climbs to 65 percent.  In addition, a 2002 survey by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety showed nearly 50% of teens do not wear their seat belts when their parents drop them off at school. 

Is it Miley and Billy Ray’s responsibility to change this statistic?  Not necessarily, but I think many parents would agree she is a role-model to a lot of her fans.  The fact that she has apologized about not wearing her seat belt, calling it an oversight, is helpful.  To her teen supporters, if Hannah Montana wears her seat belt, it must be cool. 

The point is, actions speak louder than words.  Parents telling their kids to buckle-up while not wearing their own seatbelts send a powerful and dangerous message.  Just last week, I attended Hillsborough County’s Battle of the Belts Award Ceremony, where the goal is to get teens to encourage their peers to click-it.  I spoke with Laura Marchetti, whose daughter Katie was killed in a car crash while not wearing her seat belt, and she can not stress the value of seat belts enough.

In my opinion, the fact we are talking about this issue is great.  We need more attention to these stories, especially from someone so famous among young people as Hannah Montana.
Safe travels,

Alicia

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Happy Valentine’s Day.  As you head out today to pick up some treats for your sweetie or maybe to a romantic dinner, don’t forget to play it safe.  Valentine’s Day can be a dangerous time for drinking and driving, as most wines have a relatively high alcoholic content.  If you want to drink, call a cab.  It may save your life! 

According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, about three in every ten Americans will be involved in an alcohol-related crash at some time in their lives.  In 2006, an estimated 17,602 people died in alcohol-related traffic crashes—an average of one every 30 minutes. These deaths constitute 41 percent of the 42,642 total traffic fatalities. Of these, an estimated 13,470 involved a driver with an illegal BAC (.08 or greater). 

Take care of the people you love and be responsible. 
Safe Travels,
Alicia

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Watch the Video: Battle of the Belts

In August, we told you about Battle of the Belts, a campaign to rally seat belt use in Hillsborough County.  Eighteen high schools competed this year and last week, I sat in on the award ceremony to honor 1st place Newsome High School.  Their seniors and juniors truly buckled down to spread the message of buckle up.  97.3% of their students wear their seatbelts.  Congratulations!!!

Increasing seatbelt use among teens is literally a life or death effort.  Motor vehicle crashes are the leading killer of young people.  Yet seat belt use for this group lags behind other drivers… and that reality has killed too many teens.  In 2006, 12 of the 15 teens killed in car crashes in Hillsborough County were not wearing their seatbelts. 

Education and awareness is key in battling this scary statistic.  Laura Marchetti, whose daughter Katie was killed in a single car crash while not wearing her seatbelt, created the Katie Marchetti Foundation to help bring awareness to this issue.  She believes young drivers are part of the solution to this problem… and feels teens talking to teens about buckling up is critical.

LM: “When they take care of each other, it’s more powerful.”

Bucs linebacker Ryan Nece also advocates seatbelts, after surviving a severe car crash while in high school.

RN: “I thought I was invincible, and just like that my life completely changed.”

Event organizers know the battle for seatbelt use happens every time teens get behind the wheel.  They plan to continue Battle of the Belts next year to keep this message strong. 

For more information on the Katie Marchetti Memorial Foundation, visit http://www.katiesstory.com.

Safe travels.
Alicia

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Manhattan Construction Company will be doing underground utility connection work on Cass Street between Tampa Street and Franklin Street.  Cass Street will be closed to vehicle traffic between Tampa Street and Franklin Street.  The closure is anticipated to begin on Monday, February 11, 2008.  Work is expected to be completed within 30 days.

The City of Tampa recommends that motorist use alternate routes during this closure to avoid any potential traffic congestion.

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The Catholic Diocese is hosting a conference Monday morning at the Tampa Convention Center for approximately 3000 participants.  Watch for extra volume downtown.  Registration begins at 7:00am.

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A recent AAA member survey on fuel prices and vacation travel intentions suggests that we may travel closer to home this year especially if gasoline reaches $3.50 per gallon, the peak summer price projected by the U.S. Dept. of Energy.

According to the AAA Travel Pulse™ report, one-third of AAA members (34%) indicate they would consider altering vacation plans to travel closer to home if the price of gasoline reaches $3.25 per gallon.  Nearly one-fifth (19%) said they would consider altering their plans if gasoline reached $3.50.  However, three in ten members (28%) indicate they won’t change their vacation plans no matter how much gasoline costs.

Significantly more members who are retired and not working at all (41%) indicate they would consider altering their vacation plans to travel closer to home if gasoline reaches $3.25 per gallon.

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Watch for lane closures along northbound I-75 from Big Bend Road (Exit 246) to two miles north of Gibsonton Drive (Exit 250) between 10 p.m. Thursday (January 31) and 6 a.m. Friday (February 1).  Crews will be installing a Dynamic Message Sign over the highway near mile marker 252.

Two of three lanes will also be closed two miles north of Gibsonton Drive, Exit 250.

Also, traffic will be paced for lengthy durations of up to 30 minutes on the northbound I-75 corridor between midnight and 4 a.m. Friday morning.  Law enforcement officers will lead the paces and entrance ramps within the pacing area will be closed until the front of the traffic pacing operation passes the entrance ramp.

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With construction of the new Cypress Creek Town Center underway, talks turn to managing the shopping congestion along State Road 54.  A massive widening project is scheduled to begin Superbowl Sunday night and it’s taxpayers who may have scored on this deal.

The West Florida population boom over the last decade has, more than anywhere, been felt on the roadways, especially in Pasco County.  2006 U.S. Census data shows a 30.6 % increase in their population from 2000 through 2006.  That nearly triples the statewide 13.2 % surge.

With this growth, we find change.  Haulers and yellow construction lights now stand on site of the soon to be the Cypress Creek Town Center along S. R. 54 and 56 West of 75.  As part of the county’s agreement to build, developers had to invest not only in the retail opportunities of the region, but also its roadways.

Developers are shelling out $17 m to widen S.R. 54 from 4 lanes to 6 between I-75 and US-41.  Construction crews will build the new lanes in the now vacant median of the roadway.  The six lanes were in the DOT’s plan but the shopping district speed up the widening project. 

Daytime traffic will not have to worry about construction closures… overnight drivers will intermittently see one lane of two closed from 9 pm to 6am.

And finally, to settle the “which came first”...the chicken or egg, the mall or the congestion?  Developers say they don’t build such malls until there are enough people in the area to support it.

Once again, construction along S.R. 54 begins Sunday night and will not wrap up until January, 2009.  The Cypress Creek Center is scheduled to be completed in the fall of this year. 

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MacDill Avenue will be closed from La Salle Street to Main Street from 9 p.m. Friday (February 1) to 5 a.m. Monday (February 4).  Traffic will be detoured using Spruce Street, Himes Avenue, Cypress Street, and Gomez Avenue.

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Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Celebrations will take place across the region to honor the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Two parades to note include:

TAMPA: MLK Jr. Blvd between 22nd Street and Nebraska Avenue - Watch for closures between noon and 4p.m.  Alternates include Hillsborough Avenue (but watch for emergency construction at 15th Street) and Columbus Drive.

ST. PETERSBURG: Watch for closures along MLK Jr. Street, 3rd Avenue South, and Central Avenue beginning at 1p.m.  Alternates include 4th Street, 4th and 5th Avenues.

Enjoy!

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If you typically use 50th street in Hillsborough County… expect closures at the end of the month.

Beginning Monday, January 28th, the 50th Street on-ramp to the Crosstown Expressway Eastbound will be shut down for approximately one month.  This work begins the second phase of the deck panel replacement project on the expressway.

Motorists who need to head east should use the on-ramps at 39th Street or Highway 301 as an alternate.

Also, don’t forget, only one lane is getting through along the Crosstown between 50th Street and the 78th Toll Plaza for roadway repairs. 

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The Florida Department of Transportation’s contractor began work Monday, January 14th on Gandy Boulevard from east of the Gandy Bridge to Dale Mabry Highway.  Attached are the details related to this project:

Project Objectives
- The project involves converting Gandy Blvd. from the existing five lane highway with a center turn lane to a four lane divided highway with a 30 foot wide median. To accommodate the new 30 ft wide median between the Selmon Expressway and Bridge St., the existing curb and sidewalks will be removed and moved back approximately 15 feet on both sides of the current roadway. Sidewalks will run from Dale Mabry to Bridge St. on both sides of the roadway.
- A shared-use path will be constructed on both sides of Gandy between Bridge St. and the Friendship Trail.
- The area between Dale Mabry and the RR crossing (just west of the Selmon ramps) will be resurfaced.
- This project will also replace existing span wire traffic signals with new mast arms and count-down pedestrian signals at Westshore Blvd. and at Manhattan Ave.
- Manhattan intersection improvements include double left turns in all directions and dedicated right turn lanes from northbound Manhattan Ave. to eastbound Gandy, eastbound Gandy to southbound Manhattan Ave., and westbound Gandy Blvd. to northbound Manhattan Ave.

Hours of Operation:
Lane closures are permitted from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Project Information:
Project Completion:  Contract time is 730 days. 

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