Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

More lanes, more bridges, fewer headaches on U.S. 19?

MID PINELLAS Officials hope a three -year, $89.2-million construction project will help traffic along U.S. 19 from 49th Street to 126th Avenue.

By LORRIE LYKINS
Published January 7, 2007

Motorists likely will see the first signs of progress on a major three-year project to improve U.S. 19 in mid Pinellas by the end of this month.

The $89.2-million project, which will affect U.S. 19 from 49th Street to just south of 126th Avenue, began in November and is expected to be finished by summer 2009.

When it's complete with northbound and southbound frontage roads, six-lane bridges will carry U.S. 19 traffic nonstop over 110th and 118th avenues. The changes will improve traffic flow along all three routes, planners say.

A left turn lane will be added at 110th Avenue and two left turn lanes will go in at 118th.

While construction may slow traffic flow, transportation officials say that they will keep lanes open during the day. Any work requiring the road to be closed will be done between 7 p.m. and 6 a.m.

The frontage roads adjacent to northbound and southbound U.S. 19 will be built first, said Kris Carson of the state Department of Transportation. During this first phase, traffic will be shifted to the center lane of the highway while the frontage roads are constructed.

Preliminary utility work began in November.

"The target for the completion of the two frontage roads is fall 2007," Carson said, adding that the schedule may be affected by weather or other factors.

The one-way frontage roads will run parallel to U.S. 19, giving traffic access to businesses and residences. Sidewalks will be added.

Once the frontage roads are completed, work on the north-south bridges will begin. Traffic will be routed from southbound U.S. 19 onto the frontage road as work begins first on the northbound bridges.

The contractor for the project is Archer Western Contractors.

$89.2-million

Total cost of project

$6.5-million

Cost of design work

$9.2-million

Cost of buying right-of-ways

$63.5-million

Construction costs

$5.2-million

Engineering and inspection tab

Timeline

November 2006: Construction begins.

January 2007: First major traffic interruption as traffic is shifted to center lane so work on frontage roads can begin.

Fall 2007: Projected completion of frontage roads.

Summer 2008: Projected start date for work on northbound bridges over 110th and 118th avenues.

[Last modified January 7, 2007, 02:29:37]