I-75 Construction Shouldn’t Cause Holiday Delays

As work on the $95 million, 11.4-mile Interstate 75 widening project continues, motorists from the Land O’ Lakes area don’t need to worry about construction delaying holiday travel too much, say officials at the Florida Department of Transportation.

“There should be little difference than before construction over the holidays,” wrote John McShaffrey, department spokesman, in an email. “Some temporary barrier walls will be in place (which tends to slow down some drivers) to protect workers and drivers in construction areas.”

The widening project includes the stretch of I-75 from Fowler Avenue in Temple Terrace to State Road 56 in Pasco County. The interstate will be widened from four to six/eight lanes throughout that stretch.

The project is being funded through a combination of federal, state and local dollars, McShaffrey said.

“The widening is needed to increase capacity and improve safety,” he said. “It is common to have very slow mainline traffic and vehicles exiting the interstate to be stopped on the interstate, particularly during peak commuting hours. Once completed, the improvements will allow traffic to flow better in the through-lanes, as well as entering and exiting the interstate system.”

Work on the project began late last month. Right now, motorists traveling I-75 between Pasco County and Fowler Avenue will notice a lot of clearing work going on.

In addition, McShaffrey said, “some pavement corrections, pond clearing, and placing fill (dirt) on the east side of the I-75 bridges over Bruce B. Downs Boulevard are some of the initial work activities.”

That fill is for the creation of a temporary bridge for northbound I-75 traffic that will allow all mainline lanes of I-75 to be open during demolition and reconstruction of the bridges over Bruce B. Downs, McShaffrey said.

“Traffic should be put onto this temporary bridge in spring 2012,” he added.

Upcoming Lane Closings

While motorists don’t have to worry about lane closings during the Thanksgiving holiday or likely at Christmas or New Year’s, there are some potential delays on the horizon, McShaffrey said.

“Lane closure suspensions will occur Wednesday night (Nov. 23) through Sunday night (Nov. 27) for the Thanksgiving holiday and closures will be limited around Christmas and New Year's. Any lane closures are during night hours as follows:

• Southbound Interstate 75: 10:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.
• Northbound Interstate 75: 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Fowler Avenue: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Fletcher Avenue: 9 p.m. to 6 a.m.
• Bruce B. Downs Boulevard: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

Improvements Included in the Project

According to the FDOT website, these improvements are also a part of the project:

• Construction of three new bridges, including the replacement of the I-75 bridges over Bruce. B. Downs Boulevard and the westbound Fowler Avenue bridge over the Hillsborough River. Sixteen other bridges will be widened.
• Interchange improvements at Fowler Avenue, Fletcher Avenue, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, southbound I-75 at southbound I-275, and State Road 56.
• At Fowler Avenue, the ramp from northbound I-75 to westbound Fowler Avenue will be widened to two lanes. The additional lanes will combine with existing lanes to form five lanes and extend across the new bridge over the Hillsborough River to River Hills Drive.
• At Fletcher Avenue, northbound I-75 exit ramp will be widened to two lanes. This ramp will split with two turn lanes flowing freely onto westbound Fletcher Avenue and two left-turn lanes and a new signal to go east on Fletcher. At the new traffic signal, there will also be two turn lanes on eastbound Fletcher Avenue to the entrance ramp onto northbound I-75.
• Road widening and signalization improvements will also be done on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard from Commerce Palm Drive to Dona Michelle Drive. This work will match up with the new sections of Bruce. B. Downs currently under construction.

For more information about the project, visit FDOT online. The project has an estimated completion date of spring 2016.