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Alliance to address widening of toll road

The Town 'N Country Alliance will question state turnpike officials about the Veterans Expressway.

By JACKIE RIPLEY
Published August 7, 2005

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - There has been a lot of talk lately about the proposed widening of the Veterans Expressway, and there will be more talk still at a meeting of the Town 'N Country Alliance on Monday. The 7 p.m. meeting, to be held in the media center at Webb Middle School, 6035 Hanley Road, will feature officials from Florida's Turnpike Enterprise, a public-private entity that operates the state's turnpikes and toll roads.

"I don't know if people spoke their minds when the road went through and knew at some point this day was coming," said Bill Browne, president of the Town 'N Country Alliance. "It's anybody's guess as to how much interest there will be over it."

The state Department of Transportation is looking at various ways to ease traffic on the toll road. Part of those changes include widening the four-lane road into eight lanes from Memorial Highway to Van Dyke Road.

The study area also includes the 3-mile portion of the Veterans between the Suncoast Parkway and Dale Mabry Highway.

In addition, transportation officials are looking at improving and expanding the toll road's SunPass electronic toll collection system. Florida Turnpike spokeswoman Joanne Hurley said it may include express toll lanes similar to those on the Suncoast Parkway.

The state began a study in March to evaluate improvements between Memorial and Van Dyke. But transportation officials say any proposed changes are still in the study phase. No definitive answers are expected for another 18 months. In addition, any changes would not occur until 2010.

In the meantime, transportation officials are meeting with people to talk about the study, which will conclude with a public hearing.

A Web site, www.veteransexpressway.com will allow people to post direct feedback.

[Last modified August 6, 2005, 10:03:05]