Traffic light, new school in sync

With a new high school set to open next year, a traffic signal at Waters and Montague is welcome news for some residents.

By JANE BOKUN

© St. Petersburg Times, published July 23, 2000

COUNTRYWAY -- It won't happen any time soon, but county officials say a new traffic light will be installed at Waters Avenue and Montague Street.

Jeff Herndon, a manager in the public works department, said the new light is a response to the heavier traffic expected to accompany a new high school off Pistol Range Road. That high school, serving the greater Town 'N Country area, is scheduled to open in August 2001.

"The traffic light won't go in until the latter stages of construction," Herndon said. "We will be starting construction on a Montague Street road extension to accommodate the school next month. The new light is scheduled to be up and running during August of next year."

The road, he said, is "the primary access to the new high school, and it warrants a signal."

No argument from Countryway residents, who have watched the school plans closely. "It's very warranted; this is going to be a major intersection," said Bill Christie, president of the Countryway Homeowners Association.

Area residents also supported the traffic light project at two public meetings conducted by the county public works department.

The Montague Street extension will travel south of Waters, curving around the back of Charleston Corners and hugging a canal west of the Timberlane neighborhood. Then it will curve and continue, parallel to Pistol Range Road, until it ends at Hillsborough Avenue.

The new high school, costing an estimated $37.5-million, is designed for 2,500 students on 58 acres next to Countryway and also serving Westchase. It will relieve overcrowding at Sickles High School, which is now at 140 percent capacity and on double sessions.

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