I am not a paranoid driver, but I am, let's say, a prudent driver. And being prudent, I am leery of the Indy-500-like curves on Park Street between about 22nd Avenue N and Central Avenue. So I always keep to the outside lanes, especially at night, when cars speeding toward me on the inside lane can easily cross into oncoming traffic on the sharp hairpin curves.
Turns out my caution isn't all that crazy. Has anyone else noted that a vehicle recently did an impressive amount of damage to a wall several yards to the west of the southbound lane at Park Street and Dartmouth Avenue N?
It appears that a vehicle jumped the curb, took out a guardrail and went through what looks to me like a very sturdy brick wall.
George Martin, a reader who lives in the area, wrote to me recently about the same stretch of Park Street.
"Southbound cars regularly miss the curve, jump the curb, knock down a low brick wall or tear up a guardrail by a culvert opposite Dartmouth or tear out the landscaping and fence (at a nearby property)," Martin wrote. "There are arrow signs along this stretch of road but they obviously are not doing the trick. Why doesn't whoever is in charge of Park Street at least put in some flashers?"
Michael Frederick, manager of neighborhood transportation for St. Petersburg, said he is working with the county, since Park Street is a county road, to address the problem. Frederick said that a serious accident occurs on Park at Dartmouth at least once a year, usually at night and in rainy weather.
"We're looking at enhancing signs and pavement markings, but the problem here is that people are driving too fast," Frederick said. He noted that the current guardrail - the one that was recently destroyed - was erected to prevent vehicles from hitting the culvert and going into the ditch. A more elaborate guardrail may be installed soon. But that may not solve the problem, and flashing lights might not either. Frederick put it succinctly: "You can't legislate common sense."
But for whatever it's worth, here's a note to drivers who seem to think they are participating in a NASCAR time trial while motoring on Park Street: You're not. You're in a residential neighborhood.
Oh, and here's another idea: call me crazy, but could you slow down?
Much road work in Pinellas Park
A lot seems to be happening in Pinellas Park these days. Judging from the packed parking lot, Target devotees are thrilled that the new store has opened at the Shoppes at Park Place, formerly Parkside Mall. Also, several road projects are in the works, including storm sewer and new sidewalk installation along major roads and road improvements.
A major road project that will require road closures is the 43rd Street widening and reclaimed water improvements project scheduled to begin in late October. The street runs west of the Shoppes at Park Place. The project will widen 43rd Street to a three-lane road from 70th Avenue to 78th Avenue and will add intersection improvements on 43rd Street at 70th Avenue, Park Boulevard and 78th Avenue. Occasional lane closures and/or detours will be necessary to complete the project.
And motorists may have noticed current work along 76th Avenue between 56th and 57th streets, which is storm sewer installation and repaving of the road. The drainage improvement project on Park Boulevard is in progress, and the installation of a box culvert will mean detours for westbound traffic on 78th Avenue between 49th Street and 60th Street, and turn lanes may be converted to eastbound or westbound lanes during the construction process in the next few months, according to a news release from the city.
What about those roads at TIA?
Commuters who drive near Tampa International Airport may be wondering what's going on with the roads over there. An upcoming public meeting may provide answers. The Florida Department of Transportation will hold an open house Tuesday at the Westshore Best Western Hotel, 1200 N West Shore Blvd., Tampa, from 5 to 7 p.m. Representatives for the DOT will answer questions about the Tampa Airport Interchanges improvement project, which includes State Road 60 and the Courtney Campbell Parkway and Interstate 275 to the Veterans Expressway.
Until next week, happy and safe motoring.
Please share your traffic concerns, comments and questions with Dr. Delay via e-mail at docdelay@yahoo.com
