 |
||||||||
 |
||||||||
|
||||||||
|
Road realignment gains momentum
By LOGAN D. MABE © St. Petersburg Times, published December 15, 2000 NORTHDALE -- A revamped intersection and new signal on N Dale Mabry Highway, which officials say could thin rush hour backups around the Bearss/Ehrlich junction, has moved closer to reality. This week, county officials presented plans to the community for aligning Zambito Road with Carrollwood Springs Boulevard and got mostly favorable reviews. "It went pretty well," said county spokesman Steve Valdez. "Some of the residents of the Quail Run condominiums, I think, would be much happier if we just cul-de-saced Zambito and didn't connect it to Dale Mabry at all. But that's not a viable circumstance." The county wants to bend the north end of Zambito Road so that it intersects N Dale Mabry at a 90-degree angle. A traffic light would be installed and would help direct traffic coming from Carrollwood Springs Boulevard. Now, Zambito joins N Dale Mabry at an angle north of Carrollwood Springs Boulevard and south of the intersection at Northdale Boulevard. "The current "Y' configuration is just not acceptable engineering standards," Valdez aid. "It literally causes you to have to look over your shoulder when you're trying to get onto Dale Mabry. And that's probably the least safe move around." In essence, the realignment would provide an alternate east-west route for commuters wanting to avoid the busy Bearss-Dale Mabry intersection. "We think it's a good plan," Valdez said. "And the Florida Department of Transportation thinks it's a good plan. We were very surprised that the DOT approved a traffic signal because it is so close to Ehrlich Road and the entrance to Northdale. But because of the volume of traffic going between the shopping centers, and because of the high accident rate there, they agreed to it." Valdez said there will be more public meetings on the project in the coming months when more details, such as the final cost, are known. - Logan D. Mabe can be reached at (813) 226-3464 or at mabe@sptimes.com
 © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times
490 First Avenue South • St. Petersburg, FL 33701 • 727-893-8111 
|
From the Times |
