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High hopes for new highway

By TIMES EDITORIALS
Published July 19, 2006

It is tall, fast, overdue, above budget and - as of daybreak Tuesday - open for business. The elevated lanes of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway opened to traffic, bringing morning commuters from Brandon into downtown Tampa. From the reaction of many who took the road, the delays, partial collapse and cost overruns are ancient history. Commuters said they shaved a quarter hour or more from their drive into work, a savings of time and frustration beyond any rational measure.

After years of negative press, the highway should enjoy this public honeymoon. Indeed, the raves from commuters these first few days should prompt some to put aside their concerns and take to the elevated roadway.

Conceived as a way to add capacity to the Crosstown without buying additional land, the upper deck will carry traffic downtown in the mornings and back to the eastern suburbs at night. In April 2004, a support column sank, buckling a section of roadway. After a second column sank months later, officials determined that nearly three-fourths of the support columns needed hardening.

The repairs, cost overruns and delays cost the expressway boss his job and nearly put the agency out of business. With the road now open - the eastbound lanes will be ready next month - officials are trying to refocus attention on the highway's original promise.

We hope the road proves itself. The project shows that grandiose designs still must be based on sound engineering, and that public agencies must keep a hand in projects even when private companies play a role managing them.

[Last modified July 19, 2006, 01:19:04]