YIPPEE!!!!  Okay, so it is official, I am a major traffic geek.  But I do have to admit I was very excited to hear of the early reopening of McMullen Booth Road.  The Pinellas County Public Works Director of Transportation announced Thursday that railroad and roadway repairs have been completed and all lanes of McMullen Booth Road just north of Ruth Eckerd Hall and south of State Road 590 are once again open to traffic. 

The early opening was made possible by the following combined factors: 
· Favorable weather conditions, in particular lack of electricity-conducting lightning
· Extremely strong cooperation between Pinellas County’s contractor, E.L. Trevena, Inc., the county’s engineering consultant, TBE Group, and CSXT
· Around-the-clock availability of Pinellas County’s contractor
· Pinellas County contractor aid in the movement and placement of the main section of tracks, by supplying CSTX with multiple pieces of heavy equipment and labor
· Extensive coordination and assistance from multiple divisions within Public Works (i.e.) Engineering, Construction Administration, Traffic Engineering, Highway, etc.
· Advanced Traffic Management System/Intelligent Transportation System (ATMS/ITS) utilized on Gulf to Bay and US 19
· Extensive public information campaign that included multiple variable message signs placed at high-traffic intersections and roadways, citizen and business project information mailers and public service announcements
· Monitored traffic flow by Sheriff’s helicopter
· Hired “work train” to accelerate the rail compaction/leveling process
· Coordination with impacted cities and surrounding counties

As you can recall, this road closure began on May 25th and was scheduled to run through 15th.