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Alicia Roberts hosting Saturday Night Baseball at The Trop

Rusty and Alicia Roberts before the Devil Rays Game

Special thanks to the Devil Rays for inviting me to host Saturday Night Baseball at Tropicana Field… Cinco de Mayo edition.  Mas Maracas! And what a game is was… tied up until the bottom of the 12th inning when our Devil Rays pulled ahead to win 3-2… GO RAYS.

Alicia Hosting Saturday Night at Tropicana Field

Rusty and Alicia

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Traffic Solutions for Your Commute

Mornings

I-4
- Along Westbound I-4 near 75, volume peaks between 6:15 and 7:45am.  If you drive through this point by 6 o’clock, you’ll be spared some of the gridlock. 
- Heading toward 275, aim to be at 50th Street before 6:15am when volume tops off. Otherwise, you’ll have to deal with almost 20 percent more volume in the next fifteen minutes alone and through 7:15am.

275
-Southbound 275 traffic slows down at Fletcher Avenue between 6:15 and 6:30am.  If you can be here before that, you’ll cruise into downtown with speeds above 50 MPH.
-South of Fletcher, traffic bottlenecks through MLK Boulevard at 6:15am. Again, hit this point before 6:15 and you’ll bypass the heaviest 35% congestion surge.
- Meanwhile, Northbound 275 traffic into the downtown interchange slows at 6:45 am, holding steady then through 8:15am. Here, it’s a good idea to get to Howard/Armenia by 6:30am to dodge the oncoming delays.

75
- Another morning hotspot is I-75 Southbound.  Southbound traffic into Bruce B. Downs Blvd reaches some of its highest volume levels at 6:30am with the lowest speeds recorded through 7:45am.
- Just before I-4, you’re tapping the brakes beginning at 6:45am, so work to get ahead by making your way toward this junction closer to 6:30am.

Veteran’s and Crosstown
Along the Veteran’s and Crosstown Expressways, roadway sensor information is not available.  But we looked at traffic logs from several weeks to develop some general patterns.
- You’ll want to be as far south along the Veteran’s by 6:30am to avoid the steady build-up of brake lights through 9 o’clock.
- Westbound along the Crosstown, the hot-spot is 78th Street at 6:30am, as drivers from the East and the Brandon area make their way in.

Evenings
Wednesday nights, more people stay late at work than any other night during the week.  Therefore, the rush on Wednesday afternoon starts usually at least ½ hour later and subsequently ends anywhere between ½ hour to an hour after the normal peak congestion periods during the remainder of the week, excluding Fridays.  And with everyone trying to get a jumpstart on the weekend, the rush begins and wraps up earlier on Friday than any other day of the week. 

275
- Near Fletcher, traffic along northbound 275 screeches to a halt just before 5:15pm, so plan to get there either before this time or plan your leave time to hit this point after 6:00pm to avoid sitting in the most significant delays.
- Southbound 275 stacks up early as drivers make their way toward the Veteran’s and the Howard Frankland typically between 4:30 and 5:00pm.  The slow merge onto the Veteran’s particularly halts traffic generally thru 6:30pm. 

I-4
If you are heading east along I-4, the heaviest delays through 50th Street generally occur between 4:45pm and 5:30.  Again, if you can plan your night around that knowledge you won’t sit in the virtual parking lot of this notoriously sluggish zone.

I-75
- If you are traveling northbound along I-75 through Bruce B. Downs on your way home, patience is a good virtue to have.  This was a hard one to pinpoint the specific time when traffic peaks, because we see a very steady and building rush from 4:30 – 5:30pm here.  But good news, if you can stay late at the office one night, you will avoid some of the delays if you make sure not to drive through this point before 6:15.
- Drivers who make their way out along the SB lanes of I-75 approaching the 1-4 Junction must factor in delays occurring along I-4 as well as the existing congestion on I-75.  Generally 4:00pm is the hot zone here, so if you don’t have to cross through this point during the brunt of the delays you will be partially spared from the sluggish gridlock.

Veteran’s
With all of the construction, the on-ramp from 275 to the Veteran’s is a virtual parking lot beginning sometime between 4:30 and 5:00pm.  After that, the headlights begin once again approaching Hillsborough Avenue through past Anderson Road until at least 6:30pm. 

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Red light cameras are being installed in intersections across the county in an effort to prevent dangerous accidents.  According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, red light runners are responsible for an estimated 260,000 crashes each year, of which nearly 750 are fatal—and the number is rising.

In April, Bill 1247, which allows cities and counties to install the cameras, unanimously passed in the State House.  But for the fourth year in a row, the Senate put the brakes on the legislation. 
 
Proponents argue the cameras are a proven way to increase public safety.  Opponents of the policy believe these cameras violate a citizen’s right to privacy.

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK?  ARE THE CAMERAS NECESSARY OR IS PRIVACY BEING JEOPARDIZED IF THE MEASURE BECOMES LAW?
POST YOUR THOUGHTS HERE AND LATER IN THE WEEK WE WILL SHARE SOME OF YOUR OPINIONS ON-AIR. 

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Just before noon, authorities reopened the intersection of Hillsborough and Armenia Avenues.  An earlier truck accident and chemical spill had the highway shut down for nearly 5 hours.

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Just after 6:30 Tuesday morning, officials responded to an accident involving a truck carrying 10-12 liquid substance barrels at the intersection of Hillsborough and Armenia Avenues.  As a result of the impact, 2 of those containers fell off of the truck and spilled onto the roadway. 

HAZMAT and DOT response teams were called to clean-up approximately 60 gallons of sodium silicate, a slippery compound used for a variety of purposes including auto cooling system repairs, passive fire protection, and textile and lumber processing.  Sodium silicate in this form is not toxic to breathe.

At last check, officials predicted that the scene will not be reopened to traffic for up to several hours.  Traffic is jammed in both directions along Hillsborough Avenue from Macdill through to Nebraska Avenues.  Tampa Police Officer, Lisa Parashis, advises motorists to avoid the area.  Alternate east and west routes include Sligh Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

The truck driver was charged with failure to properly secure a load. 

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As you travel through Brandon, watch out for overnight construction this week along I-4.  The eastbound I-4 (Exit 9) ramp to southbound I-75 will be closed from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. Monday through Thursday nights (April 23-26).

Traffic will be detoured east to the next exit (County Road 579, Exit 10), where motorists will turn left at the top of the exit ramp onto CR 579, cross over I-4, then turn left and enter westbound I-4. Drivers can then take the next exit ramp (Exit 9) to I-75. Once on the ramp, drivers need to be in the left lane to take the ramp to southbound I-75.

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The southbound I-275 ramp to eastbound I-375 (Exit 23A) was REOPENED to traffic this weekend.  The ramp had been closed since a tanker fire on March 28.  Crews wrapped up work nearly a week early.  The estimated cost of the project was $2.5M.  But the insurance company will foot the bill for this one rather than taxpayers. 

A spokesperson from Pinellas County advises motorists to expect additional intermittent lane detours in June as repairs are made to roadway expansion joints.  But for now, commuters can breathe a sigh of relief as the significant repairs and closures are complete!

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See More Photos

So I actually hit the ball… miracles never cease!  And believe me, I was as shocked as anyone.  In fact, I never expected to make contact so I was even more excited to remember to run in the proper direction (in Beepball, if you hit to the right side of the field, you run to third base and vice versa).  Our very own Steve “The Slugger” Jerve played this morning too and he also had a great hit.  Go Channel 8!

Before the start of the game, a moment of silence was held to honor our friend and colleague, John Winter.  John was a long-time supporter of Tampa’s Lighthouse for the Blind.  I am positive he was one of our “angels in the outfield.”

I want to say a big thank you to Coach Steve Otto who invited me to play and made me feel so welcome.  It was a pleasure to meet all of the athletes and fans, what a great morning we had together!

Check out pictures from the game too!

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Beep! Beep! Beep!  And no, this time it’s not the sound of car horns in the middle of rush hour!

I am looking forward to joining Steve Otto from the Tribune for my first Beepball game Saturday morning.  Growing up, I played softball every summer.  But somehow I suspect I might need a little bit of luck to actually get a hit.  That’s because you have to try to hit the ball while blindfolded.  The ball beeps as a guide, but still, my chances don’t seem too good.  Oh well, I am always up for a good laugh!  And judging from Steve’s comments this morning in his column, our opponents - The Lighthouse for the Blind squad - appear to be a formidable crew. 

Stop by to cheer on both teams.  The game will begin at 10 a.m. at the New York Yankees’ Community Field, which is right next to Legends Field, off Dale Mabry Highway.

And check back Monday morning for pictures!

By the way, here is the link to Steve’s column: http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBTW1I1Q0F.html

Play Ball!
-Alicia

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Below are some of the most significant projects scheduled for this weekend, aside from the ongoing projects that run all week long.  Hope it saves you a headache or two as you head out especially on I-275.  Thanks to John McShaffrey from the Florida DOT for the updates.  Safe travels. - Alicia

I-4
Thursday night, another lane was opened up along westbound I-4 from about 34th Street to 21st/22nd Streets.  This now allows 3 to 4 lanes of traffic in that area.  Crews are scheduled to begin the final stages of the project shortly. 

50th Street
50th Street will be closed under I-4 from 8 p.m. Friday, April 20, to 6 a.m. Monday, April 23, to remove the old westbound I-4 bridge.  Northbound 50th Street traffic will be detoured onto eastbound I-4
to Exit 5 (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard) then west on MLK back to 50th Street.  Southbound 50th Street traffic will be detoured west on Melbourne Boulevard, then south on 40th Street/39th Street, then east on State Road 60 (Adamo Drive) to 50th Street.  All ramps will remain open at the 50th Street interchange, but motorists will still have to use the detours if they need to pass under I-4.

MLK ramp to southbound I-75
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard entrance ramp to southbound I-75 will be closed from 8 p.m. Friday, April 20, to 6 a.m. Monday, April 23.  Traffic will be detoured west on MLK, then north on U.S. 301, then east on I-4 to Exit 9 (southbound I-75).

Northbound I-275 Sunday night
There will be lane closures and traffic pacing on northbound I-275 between 10 p.m. Sunday, April 22, and and 5 a.m. Monday, April 23,  to install a sign structure that spans the northbound lanes, north of 54th Avenue North.  The structure and the changeable message sign will both be installed Sunday night.  The sign is an important part of the Florida Department of Transportation’s Intelligent Transportation System.  Here are the traffic impacts to expect Sunday night:
        * Two lanes will be closed on northbound I-275 beginning at 10 p.m. for about one half mile approaching the work area, which is north of 54th Avenue North.
        * Two to three traffic paces on northbound I-275 from 54th Avenue South to the work site.  The traffic paces will begin after midnight (Monday morning) and be finished by 5 a.m.
        * All northbound entrance ramps within the pacing zone will be blocked until the front of the pace passes.
Delays of up to 30 minutes are expected during the traffic paces.  Motorists are highly encouraged to seek alternate routes to avoid northbound I-275 from 54th Avenue South to Gandy Boulevard.

Southbound I-275 ramp to eastbound I-375 remains CLOSED
The southbound I-275 ramp to eastbound I-375 remains CLOSED as a result of a tanker fire on March 28th.  Use I-175 to access the downtown St. Pete area. All other ramps at that interchange are open.  Restoration is almost complete.  All 11 replacement beams have been installed, the bridge decks have been poured, and various work is ongoing.

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Welcome to Traffic Talk… your forum for traffic and transportation news, woes and updates.  I look forward to hearing from you!

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Hernando drivers… you’ll like this news!

All lanes on SR 50 are open in each direction in the normal configuration.  However there will be intermittent detours of the eastbound traffic to the westbound lane throughout the repairs to facilitate work above.
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On Tuesday afternoon, December 9, a dump truck going eastbound on SR 50 struck the I-75 southbound overpass and destroyed two concrete beams.

TRAFFIC IMPACT:
The eastbound lanes on SR 50 are closed however eastbound traffic is getting by in one westbound lane.  The northbound off ramp to westbound SR 50 has a partial closure.  There is currently one lane open on southbound I-75 over SR 50.

UPDATES & ACTION PLAN:
The damaged dump truck was removed from the roadway last night.  The contractor, Leware Construction, is in the process of demolishing the two damaged concrete beams and bridge deck.  This should be completed by Thursday, December 11.

SR 50 traffic will be reopened to two lanes in each direction after the demolition process is complete, however there will be intermittent detours of the eastbound traffic to the westbound lane throughout the repairs to facilitate work above.

Temporary barrier wall is being installed on southbound I-75.  Southbound I-75 will have a lane shift installed to provide two lanes of traffic during repairs, to be completed by the end of the week.

Two replacement beams have been ordered and are being fabricated.  The contractor hopes to set the new beams early next week.  The bridge deck will be poured by the end of next week.

It is estimated that final restoration of traffic on southbound I-75 to two lanes will be completed within three weeks (+/-).  Final restoration of traffic on SR 50 to two lanes in each direction, uninterrupted, will be completed by the end of the month.  Please keep in mind these dates could change, due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances.  Our contractor is working as quickly as possible, trying to restore the lanes on the interstate and SR 50 during the very busy holiday traffic time.  Thank you for your patience.

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