As traffic inches along on South Shore’s roads and streets causing accidents to happen and tempers to rise, there are a few bright spots on the horizon that will eventually alleviate some problems.
For one thing, Hillsborough County traffic services director Mike McCarthy has agreed to take residents’ complaints to county commissioners concerning the new median at the intersection where First Street S.W. and 14th Avenue S.W. converge before they enter U.S. 41.
McCarthy said he thinks the commission, which will consider the changes Oct. 4, will approve a recommendation made by his department to change traffic flow. A few months back, a stone median was erected in less than two days, without any warning to residents, and this arrangement has resulted in a series of resident complaints, a petition and a community meeting Sept. 20 where residents enumerated their complaints to McCarthy who offered four options for fixing the problem.
At the meeting, tempers flared as McCarthy gave the options for intersection changes. Although many residents wanted complete removal of the median, most agreed to a different option – suggested by McCarthy – to make a cut-through that will allow for more traffic flow. The county said some form of barrier will be necessary at that intersection as the area grows and so it will not remove the entire structure.
But as early as next week, residents could hear jackhammers cutting through the concrete median and see changes in the U.S. 41 traffic light so cars exiting either street could turn both directions at the intersection.
I certainly hope the commission approves this. Right now, you’re forced to go north whether you want to or not, which often means turning right to go left. Sometimes I wonder if county (and state) highway officials realize that the shortest distance between two points is a straight line.

McDonald’s improvements
Officials for the new McDonald’s restaurant at the corner of State Road 674 and U.S. 301 in Sun City Center are in the process of completing plans to relocate a water main so they can add a new turn-lane on Valley Forge Boulevard. This, and some repaving on Valley Forge Boulevard – also in Sun City Center – was part of a concurrency requirement of the county’s Planning and Growth Management Office when the McDonald’s permit was granted.
If everything moves along as planned, work could start as early as January. The contact person for this is Jim Kurtz, assistant construction manager for McDonald’s USA, LLC in Tampa at 630-9634.

Your letters
Several people have written in questions that I have not yet addressed, so if you don’t see your answers here, rest assured I will try and get to them soon.
Meanwhile, continue to mail your questions and concerns about South Shore’s roads and traffic to me at 3032 College Ave., Ruskin, Fla. 33570 or e-mail with “Road Raves” in the subject line.

Penny Fletcher is the editor of The Sun.