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Road widening keeps trucking

Work on Race Track Road pleases officials.

By Tamara El-Khoury
Published January 25, 2007

OLDSMAR - Race Track Road is getting wider.

And officials from both sides of the well-traveled corridor couldn't be happier.

Hillsborough County's more than $65-million project to widen Race Track Road to up to six lanes continues this week with the start of construction between Countryway Boulevard and Linebaugh Avenue.

That section of the road will be expanded from two lanes to four.

"Getting to and from Oldsmar will be a pleasant experience instead of a gridlocked experience," said Hillsborough County spokesman Steve Valdez.

A stormwater retention pond will also be constructed at the intersection of Race Track Road and Forest Lakes Boulevard.

Oldsmar Mayor Jerry Beverland said he is "1,000 percent" behind the project, which will ease traffic off Forest Lakes Boulevard.

The widening of the road will also loosen traffic congestion for people traveling to and from the Oldsmar Flea Market on Race Track Road and other nearby businesses, Valdez said.

Next month, the county will finish expanding Race Track Road from two lanes to four from S Mobley Road to Countryway Boulevard.

The project will also divert Race Track Road west of the Tampa Bay Downs parking lot so visitors won't have to cross the road from the parking lot to the track. Construction is expected to begin in the late spring, Valdez said. A land swap was made between the county and Tampa Bay Downs.

And the final product will make life much easier, Valdez promised. There won't be any more traffic jams to let people cross to and from the parking lot as races are starting and ending.

All phases of the project are expected to be completed by 2010. Two lanes of traffic will be open during construction.

Tamara El-Khoury can be reached at 727 445-4181 or tel-khoury @sptimes.com.

[Last modified January 25, 2007, 06:56:42]