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Readers share favorite shortcuts
By Times staff writer
© St. Petersburg Times,
published July 8, 2001
We polled our readers and asked our neighbors how they get around their least-favorite spots. Some shared their secrets:
In traffic southbound on 66th Street N wishing to go east on 22nd Avenue, most people wait two minutes at the left turn signal on 66th, turn left onto Tyrone and wait again at a red for the left onto 22nd. Instead, go straight through on 66th to the first signal beyond Tyrone Boulevard. That's 22nd Avenue, and you will almost always arrive on a left green arrow and another green at Tyrone. It's a touch longer but much faster. Coming from Pinellas Park to St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport, in order to avoid the Miracle Mile of Ulmerton Road between 49th and 34th streets, take 118th Avenue eastbound. If your destination is the airport, turn north on 34th Street. If you are headed for Tampa, take northbound 28th Street to Roosevelt Boulevard and turn right for access to either the Gandy or Howard Frankland Bridge. Click here for map.
From southern Pinellas County to the Clearwater area, several readers report they make better time shuttling up Gulf Boulevard on the beaches instead of Alt. U.S. 19, even in the tourist season. South of Ulmerton Road, Seminole Boulevard is a good alternative to other northbound and southbound arteries for drivers who keep to the speed limit, more or less. And even faster through Seminole, some say, is Duhme Road/113th Street N. Click here for map.
If you're trying to catch an early morning flight out of Tampa International Airport, and you cross the Howard Frankland Bridge, you will always, always catch a traffic backup at the airport exit. Consider taking the Courtney Campbell Parkway. Follow the airport signs and stay in the right lane for a much faster trip.
To avoid the construction on Interstate 275, get off the northbound interstate at Gandy Boulevard, take Gandy west to U.S. 19 and U.S. 19 north to the Roosevelt Boulevard area. Click here for map.
When traveling between northeast St. Petersburg and the Pinellas Park area, it is faster to avoid the traditional north-south arteries and take Haines Road.
A quick way to scoot between Park Boulevard and East Bay is Belcher Road. It is mostly residential. There is little traffic. And there are few lights. It is an especially fast between Park and Ulmerton. Click here for map.
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