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City streets take on a tired look as construction booms

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published May 21, 2006

Is it just me or are some downtown roads looking a bit shabby? I realize that I probably have a more critical eye than the average driver when it comes to scrutinizing roads, as well as the fact that I can sometimes be a tad judgmental. But a few readers validated my inner critic recently by writing and complaining that the flood of construction traffic downtown is taking its toll on streets. One resident wrote to tell me that in her opinion, things seem to worsen by the day.

Reader Joan Schiavi wrote: "I have lived in downtown St. Petersburg for six years, and the roads have more holes and broken pavement daily. I travel Second Street to Third Street N and up Fourth Street, and there is pavement broken and missing at the turns including the turn off Fourth Street to Fourth Avenue. Is there any schedule for repaving the downtown streets? I noted they did make sure the Grand Prix Streets were in good shape but what about the rest of the downtown streets?"

I agree with Joan that the streets sure did look nice for the Grand Prix. And I inquired with the city's traffic operations folks regarding plans for fixes. I'll update you when I hear something.

* * *

The gorgeous landscaping in the medians along the interstate around St. Petersburg is a welcome sight to most motorists. But the beauty of the well-tended and flourishing medians makes the ones that are not looking so hot look all the more wan. Reader Tom Banks is wondering about one median that has been looking really forlorn lately. It's on Interstate 275 around 38th Avenue N.

"The area looks so barren with tall weeds and trash blowing around," Banks wrote. "After the nice landscape job that was done at I-275 and 22nd Avenue N, it would be a shame to stop there."

John Simpson, the state Department of Transportation's district landscape architect, told me last week that cleanup and landscaping improvements are in progress at 38th Avenue N. While the DOT provides the funding, the city of St. Petersburg is responsible for the installation and maintenance of median landscaping, he said. Things should be looking better soon.

* * *

Are folks looking for the beaches getting the assistance they need from road signs? Not in the vicinity of 66th Street and First Avenue S, according to some readers.

"Something has to be done," wrote Edward Johnson. "Just had yet another accident at the corner of First Avenue S and 66th Street. We live on Second Avenue S and are often asked for directions or are seeing someone turning around and heading back the other way, looking for the beaches. The sign for the split on 66th Street that goes to Pasadena Avenue does not say anything about the beaches, and it should. People just stay on 66th Street and don't know they have to turn onto Central Avenue or bear right at the split in the road."

I shared Johnson's concerns with the DOT, and Kevin Dunn, district signing/pavement marking manager, responded in an e-mail:

"I will look into providing a small sign for the "Beaches" north of the split for southbound traffic. I remember one being there for several years, not sure what happened to it. However, we do rely on tourists having a state map and being able to follow signing for state roadways i.e. SR 693, which is prominently displayed on the overhead signs."

Dunn also said the DOT will review the need for possible "Treasure Island" signing at Central Avenue.

* * *

Commuters frustrated with the traffic signal at 66th Street and Ulmerton Road may be happy to hear that county traffic signal folks are looking into the problem. Several readers have written or called about the short signal time and the traffic flow problem it creates for vehicles trying to turn left (south) onto 66th Street from Ulmerton Road.

I took a drive through the area at rush hour last week to check it out, and it is true that it takes at least two light cycles to make the turn. Of more interest to me is the fact that I counted seven cars running the red light out of frustration. Not good.

Ken Jacobs of Pinellas County public works told me that interim measures will be in place beginning Monday morning, and his department will continue to work on fixing the timing problem.

* * *

A public meeting to discuss traffic calming options for residents living in the neighborhood that runs from 122nd Street N from Park Boulevard to 81st Avenue N is set for 7 p.m. May 31 at Bauder Elementary School, 12755 86th Ave. N.

Winston Needham, traffic operations supervisor for Pinellas County, told me that the meeting has been scheduled to address complaints from residents ranging from speeding and cut-through traffic to noise and cars parking in the road. The neighborhood falls in an unincorporated area, according to Needham. Options available to residents will be discussed, but the final decision is really up to the residents, who can opt to pursue speed humps or choose to take no action at this point.

* * *

Remember the huge half-moon drain in the inside lane of eastbound Tyrone Boulevard just east of Park Street? It was large enough to hold a spare tire for a truck, and I've witnessed many a car speed around the curve in the road and kerplunk down into the drain. Other vehicles created hazards swerving to skirt around it.

The good news is that crews filled it in last week, and it now looks like a regular old drain opening. But what concerns me is this: What will happen when it starts to rain again? Because it will, eventually, and the intersection of Park Street and Tyrone Boulevard is particularly prone to epic flooding. So maybe the gaping half-moon in the pavement served a useful purpose. The new, smaller opening makes for smoother driving, but I wonder what its water runoff capability will be? Time will certainly tell.

* * *

The Doc is going on vacation, so no Dr. Delay column next week, but I'll be back. So, until week after next, happy and safe motoring!

Please share your traffic concerns, comments and questions with Dr. Delay via e-mail at docdelay@yahoo.com.

[Last modified May 21, 2006, 09:16:23]