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Rail repairs to shut roads

By WILL VAN SANT
Published February 21, 2007

CLEARWATER - Drivers beware: Two major Pinellas County roads - McMullen-Booth and Bryan Dairy - will close for a period this spring and summer to allow for rail line repairs.

Beginning May 19, McMullen-Booth Road - a major north-south route linking North Pinellas to the Bayside Bridge - will be closed for as long as three weeks just south of State Road 590. That's where the CSX rail line intersects the road.

Traffic will be detoured along U.S. 19.

Then, in mid June, Bryan Dairy Road - a major east-west route in central Pinellas - will be closed for as long as three weeks just west of Belcher Road at the rail crossing.

Traffic there will be detoured along Ulmerton Road.

Because access to side streets and businesses must be maintained, the only true closings will be at the rail crossings. Signs will encourage drivers to move to the detour routes well before the crossings.

Because of the heavy traffic on the two roads, drivers will be encouraged to avoid the construction areas.

"The theme will be pick alternate routes," said county transportation director Pete Yauch. "Don't necessarily follow the detour."

Over time, rail crossings sink and must be rebuilt so rails don't loosen and cause derailments. CSX will rebuild the crossings at the two locations.

Then the county will have to raise the roadways to make them level with the rebuilt rail line.

The county's work is expected to cost $630,000 and will be paid for with transportation impact fees and Penny for Pinellas sales tax revenue.

McMullen-Booth carries an average of 69,000 vehicles a day; Bryan Dairy, 40,000. But the work is being done at a time of year when those number should be about 10 percent lower, Yauch said.

Still, it's going to be a major disruption for people who regularly use the two routes. A public education effort is planned to prepare drivers.

"It's a good deal of traffic," Yauch said. "We are going to have a massive media campaign as we get closer to the date."

Will Van Sant can be reached at 727 445-4166 or vansant@sptimes.com.

Q & A

McMullen-Booth and Bryan Dairy road closures

Q Why are McMullen-Booth and Bryan Dairy roads being closed?

A. CSX must repair its rail crossings, which requires the county to rebuild its road approaches.

Q. When will the closings happen and for how long?

A. The rail intersection on McMullen-Booth will close May 19. It will reopen after two or three weeks. Work on the rail intersection at Bryan Dairy is expected to begin June 19 and will take two to three weeks.

Q. How much will this cost?

A. The road work will cost $630,000, using money from transportation impact fees and Penny for Pinellas sales tax revenue. CSX will pay for the rail work.

Q. Will there be detours?

A. Yes, but drivers are being encouraged to seek alternate routes that don't involve using the detours. Access to businesses and side streets will be maintained.

[Last modified February 20, 2007, 20:34:57]