Jen_Epstein's Blog

The Department of Transportation has been trying to answer that question for years. In a recent public meeting they narrowed down their possible options to reduce congestion and increase safety along US 19 in key intersections at SR 52, SR 54 and Ridge Road. Instead of spending a lot of money and building a flyover bridge (like the one recently constructed at I-75 and Bruce B Downs), they have come up with a cheaper alternative called the " Diamond Interchange". Unfourtunately the plan probably wont be put into action for another couple years. Here's a detailed analysis.

Hope you enjoyed your Labor Day weekend!! Construction crews in our area got the extra day off too but they're back to business, working on the Crosstown Expressway.

Tampa Hillsborough County Expressway Authority will be finishing its paving work this week...and that means detours for some drivers. Three Selmon Expressway ramps will close. On Wednesday, September 3, beginning at 7 pm, the Morgan Street exit eastbound and the Kennedy exit westbound exit will be closed until 5 am, September 4 On Thursday, September 4, the 22nd Street eastbound entrance and exit will be closed from 7 pm until 5 am September 5 as well as on September 5 from 7 pm to 5 am September 6. All ramps will be open between 5 am and 7 pm during these days.

Ok, i'll admit it. All the tropical storm frenzy got me a little nervous. Don't forget that you're dealing with a Northern girl!! As I drove into work this morning, I listened to the list of school closings on the radio..and had to laugh! Back in PA it was "Operation Snowflake!" But on a much more serious note, we still have a long way to go until the hurricane season is over (Nov 30) which is why you should continue to make your evacuation plans. FHP Sergeant Steve Gaksins has some helpful tips for drivers trying to dodge a storm.

--Slow down and drive in a manner that the conditions of the road dictate.
--Increase your following distance behind other vehicles (give extra space between your vehicle and others around you)
--If traffic signals aren't working, treat the intersection as a 4-way stop.
--Do not drive through standing water if unsure of the depth.
--Avoid down power lines.
--Turn on your headlights – they are always required during rain or fog.
--Check the maintenance of your vehicle – replace burned out bulbs, wipers and tires immediately.
--Move accident vehicles from travel lanes, if possible.
--Finally, call 911 if involved in an accident.
1. Follow the Move Over Law! Move away from police, fire, ambulance or tow trucks operating on the shoulder of the roadway
2. Always wear your seat belt!

For more evacuation tips and for up to the minute storm info, log on to www.myfoxhurricane.com

Drive Safe!

When a hurricane is in the forecast, it's never too early to start preparing, especially planning an evacuation route. Experts say it can take 10 times LONGER than normal to get to a destination during an evacuation. Here's a few tips to keep the evacuation as stress-free as possible.

Watch Fox13 and check out our website for updates, monitor local radio stations. Homeowners who don't live in flood zones should stay unless their homes are too old or dilapidated to safely endure the storm. The longer you wait to evacuate, the longer it will take to make it to your destination.

Plan multiple routes incase roads are closed. Routes off the main interstates and highways can be a lot faster during an evacuation.

Bring a map incase you need to take alternate routes.

Know what evacuation zone you live in. Tampa Bay has 5 zones: A, B, C, D, E. Fox 13 Hurricaine guide has a virtual map to help you find your zone. Experts say it's important that coastal residents know which flood zone they are in so they aren't surprised by a call to evacuate. Those who live in mobile homes should evacuate for even Category 1 hurricanes.

Check you car before evacuating.

1. Make sure you have a full tank of gas and do a quick maintenance check.

2. Check your truck! Make sure you have a good spare tire, emergency supplies: a first aid kit, duct tape, jumper cables for a dead battery, blankets, a flashlight, bottled water, non-perishable food (like granola bars).

4. If you’re evacuating, bring a fully chargedcell phone.

5. Dave O. reminds us all the time.. AVOID driving through water!! The average car can be swept off the road by as little as 12" of moving water.

Ofcourse, drive safe and stay calm. If evacuation is ever necessary, keep in mind... we are all in this together.

In a few weeks, the roads are going to start getting a little more congested. School buses will be back on the road. Parents driving their kids to school and teens driving themselves to school...some for the first time. Not only will there be more vehicles on the road, there will also be a lot more kids on the street, walking to school.

Sounds like the perfect time for a refresher course! Parents: talk to your kid about the importance of buckling up. Tampa Bay is the DEADLIEST metro area in America for teens 16-19. It doesn't matter if you're a safe driver...not everyone on the road is. Protect yourself. Buckle up.

Drivers: Be extra careful. Maybe even leave your house a little earlier so you can drive a little slower. There are going to be a lot more kids on the sidewalk and crossing the street. Don't be the reason that one child doesn't make it to school.

That's message. Here's AAA's.

AS CHILDREN HEAD BACK TO SCHOOL, AAA URGES MOTORISTS TO SLOW DOWN

TAMPA, FL (August 5) - School is about to begin and the streets will soon be flooded with children riding bikes, walking home and getting on and off the bus. For the 75th year, AAA’s School’s Open—Drive Carefully program urges motorists to slow down and remain alert in neighborhoods and school zones.

Pedestrian injury is the second leading cause of injury-related death in the United States for children ages 5 to 15, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than 33,500 children were treated in emergency rooms across the country for pedestrian related injuries in 2005.

Nearly half (45 percent) of vehicles observed in school zones and residential neighborhoods during a 2003 national observational survey did not come to a complete stop at stop signs.

-         37 percent rolled through a stop sign

-         7 percent did not even slow down

Additionally, nearly a third of motorists violated stop signs when a child pedestrian was present, and two-thirds exceeded the posted speed limit 30 minutes before and after the school.

Safety tips for motorists, parents and students

 Key tips for motorists:

·        Slow down in or near school or residential areas, and be sure to come to a complete stop at all intersections.

·        Look for clues such as AAA School Safety Patrol members, crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds which indicate children could be in the area.

·        Scan between parked cars and other objects for signs that children could dart into the road.

·        Always stop for school buses that are loading and unloading students. It’s the law.

·        Leave a little early so you are not rushed as you travel to work or school.

·        Drive with your headlights on—even during the day—so children and other drivers can see you.

Planning on checking out the explosive show tonight? Here's what you need to know:

ROAD CLOSURES:

The city has set up a 500-foot "safety zone" that requires closure of South Gulfview Boulevard and Coronado Drive south of the Roundabout.

South Gulfview Boulevard is already closed from south of the roundabout to Fifth Street. It won't reopen until Thursday morning. It's shut down between the Pier 60 lot at the Hyatt Aqualea.
Coronado will close tonight between Hamden Drive and Third Street, from 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. That leaves the north part of Hamden as the only north-south route open on the south beach -- until 10:30 p.m.
All traffic from the Roundabout south to Third Street will be closed from 10:30 p.m. to about 11:30 p.m. Wednesday.

At 10:30 p.m., all three north-south roads on the south beach will close for the implosion, and they'll remain closed until about 11:30 p.m. -- after the dust has settled and the Fire Marshal determines it's safe to resume traffic.

Pedestrians will not be allowed on a section of the beach in front of the Spyglass, and boaters also will be kept back from the shoreline.
The implosion is expected to happen just before 11 p.m.

PARKING:

If you're taking Memorial Causeway, use the parking lots on the north beach and on the south side of the Causeway.

If you're taking the Sand Key Bridge, use the south beach parking lot or the temporary lots near First Street.

When RedBull sponsors an event, you know it's bound to be a wild one!! For the first time, Flug Tag is coming to Tampa. This Saturday come out the CIty Park at the Convention Center and watch the brave (and slightly crazy) fly their homemade, human powered flying machines off a 40 foot deck..and into the water.

Okay, so whether you are going are want to try and avoid it completely...here are a few traffic notes to keep in mind.

Eastbound Platt Street Bridge Closed 7a-6p

Southbound Harbor Island Bridge Closed 10a-6p

Eastbound Bayshore Blvd. between Verne and Platt St. Closed 7a-6p

Also, CAUSEWAY BOULEVARD will be closed west of 50th street from 7 p.m. Friday through 7 a.m. Monday

FREE GAS AT THE RAYS GAME

HERE'S A GAS GIVEAWAY YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS. HESS EXPRESS WILL BE HANDING OUT 5-DOLLAR GAS CARDS TO ANYONE WHO GOES TO THE RAYS GAME THIS FRIDAY. ANOTHER 5-THOUSAND BUCKS WILL ALSO BE GIVEN OUT DURING THE GAME. THAT MEANS A FAMILY OF FOUR CAN DRIVE AWAY WITH 20 BUCKS WORTH OF GASOLINE. THE GAS CARDS WILL BE GIVEN AWAY THIS WEEKEND AT THE RAYS-TORONTO BLUE JAYS GAME.

FLYOVER BRIDE OPENING POSTPONED

DRIVERS IN NEW TAMPA WILL HAVE TO WAIT A LITTLE WHILE LONGER TO USE THE FLYOVER AT BRUCE B DOWNS. IT WAS SUPOSSED TO OPEN FRIDAY, BUT RAINY WEATHER HAS STALLED THE FINAL PAVING OF THE BRIDGE. WHEN IT DOES OPEN, DRIVERS HEADING TO SOUTHBOUND I-75 FROM SOUTHBOUND BRUCE B DOWNS WILL TURN RIGHT ONTO THE FLYOVER, INSTEAD OF TURNING LEFT AT THE TRAFFIC LIGHT. THE CURRENT LEFT DOUBLE-TURN LANES WILL CLOSE PERMANENTLY. THE TRAFFIC PATTERN ON THE NORTHBOUND SIDE WILL STAY THE SAME. THE FLYOVER IS NOT EXPECTED TO OPEN UNTIL JULY 21ST.

TAMPA -- Westbound traffic on State Road 60 was put into a new traffic pattern about 5 a.m. this morning (Thursday, June 26). This new alignment put traffic onto the new elevated section that bridges over Bayport Drive. Through-traffic on westbound State Road 60 no longer uses the signalized intersection at State Road 60 and Bayport Drive.

Westbound State Road 60 motorists going to Bayport Drive (Hyatt/Bayport properties) now exit to the RIGHT after crossing the bridge over Bayport Drive (instead of a left turn at the traffic signal).

During this stage of construction, traffic using the frontage ramps going to and from Bayport Drive and westbound State Road 60 will still use the signalized intersection crossing eastbound State Road 60.

Motorists should remain very alert through this area on both eastbound and westbound State Road 60 as drivers adjust to the changed conditions.

Thanks to the Department of Transportation for always keeping us updated!

Today, on I-75, two lanes northbound and two lanes southbound REMAIN open to traffic on the existing northbound interstate bridge. Southbound interstate traffic is transitioned through the median using two crossovers, one north of U.S. 301 and one south of the river. Speed limit is reduced to 45 mph. On U.S. 301, one northbound lane and one southbound lane REMAINS open.

DRIVERS ARE REMINDED to use caution in the area and to add extra travel time to their trips.

Construction crews began pouring the concrete for the bridge deck (riding surface) last night and completed the process this morning. The northbound lane and southbound lane of U.S. 301 were opened before 6 a.m. this morning.

-Before southbound traffic can travel on I-75 the bridge's side barrier walls will need to be placed and the concrete for both the deck and walls needs time to dry and gain adequate strength. Crews will also repair the northbound bridge columns that received minor damage from the crash, begin removing the wood forms that surround the concrete, and continue removal of contaminated materials. Next, the roadway will be marked with striping.

I spent Sunday morning checking out the situation on I-75 at US 301 in Manatee County. Cranes have already knocked down most of the damaged bridge and construction crews were working vigorously on the crossover lanes. And there hard work has paid off!!

The Crossover Lanes are OPEN!!

Basically, I-75 north and southbound traffic will have to merge from 3 to 2 lanes approaching US 301..then I-75 southbound traffic will cross over the median, onto the northbound (good) side and continue across the bridge. A temporary barrier is up to seperate traffic. Once southbound traffic crosses the bridge..drivers will mere back onto the southbound side.

Keep in mind:

The speed limit is reduced from 70 mph to 45 mph in the area

Speeding fines are doubled in the work zone

Highway Patrol Troopers and other law enforcement will be controlling traffic

BE PATIENT and Good Luck!!

Interstate 75 Southbound CLOSED at US 301

If you drive I-75 in Sarasota, it's time to find another way to go. Wednesday afternoon, a fiery wreck on I-75 and US 301 caused structural damage to the roadway . It's a problem that the Department of Transportation says may take weeks to fix. We saw the impact of the road closure this morning as US 41 was packed with cars as far as our eyes could see. Here's a few ways you can avoid I-75...

I-275 from St. Petersburg:  Take I-275 southbound through St. Pete, over the Sunshine Skyway. Get off at US 19 or US 41. Head south to SR 64. Go east on SR 64 to I-75 south. 

I-75 from Tampa: Take I-75 south to US 41 south. Follow US 41 south to SR 64. Head eastbound on SR 64 until you reach I-75.

Trucker Alert: The overpass of U.S. 41 over U.S. 301 has a clearance of just 14 feet. Semitrailer trucks are being advised to take I-75 to northbound I-275 to the U.S. 41 exit. At U.S. 41, the trucks can then travel south to reach State Road  64.