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Traffic to be a little less jammed
By TIM GRANT, Times Staff Writer CARROLLWOOD -- Traffic at Ehrlich and Casey roads should go much smoother after some road improvement work at that intersection is done by late summer. County engineers will widen Casey Road to accommodate more cars. A right turn lane will be added so that cars traveling south to Ehrlich Road can have a separate lane. Also, the southbound left turn lane on Casey Road will be extended from 200 to 350 feet to make more room for those cars. "It should be a significant improvement for residents in the area," said Jeff Herndon, a manager in the public works department. County commissioners approved the $150,000 project in September 2001. The work will start in May and should be done by September. Casey Road will stay open during the construction. People who live and work in the area welcome the improvements. "I'm sure it will help out," said Jim Humbertson, 50. "Traffic on Casey Road does back up at the light. It could run smoother with more lanes because there's getting to be more traffic in the area." Wayne Johnson, 35, works a block north of Ehrlich Road. He sees too many cars piled up at that intersection every day. According to a study the county conducted on April 17, 2001, 6,039 cars traveled southbound on Casey Road during a 24-hour period. Most of that traffic occurred from 7:30 to 9 a.m. and 5 to 6 p.m. Even though the county set aside money to buy right of way, it won't be needed, Herndon said. The road improvements were designed in a way that the county had enough land to build the project. Based on traffic estimates for 2020, the improvements at that intersection will be essential. Herndon said by then the average daily traffic on Casey Road will be up to 18,000 cars. "Any time we make an improvement, we try to project its impact over 20 years," Herndon said. "With this improvement, we will be better off." - To reach Tim Grant call 269-5311, or at grant@sptimes.com.
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From the Times |
