"Repaving Set For Fowler" (Plan accordingly if you have evening classes)

[USFan]

By LAURA KINSLER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 28, 2007

NORTH TAMPA - Just about the time traffic gets back to normal on Fletcher Avenue, commuters will face another road project near the University of South Florida.

The Florida Department of Transportation will repave Fowler Avenue from 30th Street to west of River Hills Drive. Spokeswoman Marian Scorza said the work should start on the $6.5 million project in September or October.

'It's a 100-day job, but it will be night construction,' Scorza said.

Lane closures will be kept to a minimum, and there shouldn't be a time when traffic is blocked, she said. In addition to resurfacing 3.4 miles of Fowler, the contract also calls for the addition of nearly 20 blocks of new sidewalks.

Anytime the FDOT resurfaces a state road, it brings the road into compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act. The six-lane road must be accessible to pedestrians, so the department will add sidewalks on the south side of Fowler between 30th Street and Bull Run Drive. Sidewalks will be added on the north side between 50th and 52nd streets.

The department also plans to replace several pedestrian crosswalk signals with newer countdown signals.

It's about time!

http://northeast2.tbo.com/content/2007/jul/28/ne-repaving-set-for-fowler/?news

[ctbrown24]

I wish they did this over summer!  :

[USF03]

I wish they would do this to Fletcher... that road is bad

[USFan]

I wish they would do this to Fletcher... that road is bad

I thought something was being done?

Fletcher Construction Going Well

Barricades let drivers know that Fletcher Ave is closed at the railroad crossings but all the business are open and accessible.

By LAURA KINSLER, The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 4, 2007

TAMPA - Work is going so well at the halfway point of the Fletcher Avenue rail crossing improvements that construction may finish ahead of schedule.

Hillsborough County closed Fletcher in both directions east of Nebraska Avenue on July 19 to rebuild the crossing. The project was slated to last a month - reopening in time for the first day of classes at district schools and the University of South Florida.

'We're still on schedule,' county public works spokesman Steve Valdez said. 'We may even finish early.'

The reopening can't come quickly enough for business owners on Fletcher, where traffic was rerouted to Bearss or 131st avenues.

Muffler City store manager Brian Wellington estimated that he has lost nearly half his regular business.

'It's been very tough,' he said. 'In another week, we may have to shut down until it's over.'

The RaceTrac store is usually one of the busiest gas stations in the area, with a dozen cars gassing up at once. But during the closing, most of the pumps are vacant.

Kim Phan, co-owner of Kaleisia Tea Lounge, said she expected to lose business coming from Interstate 275. What's more upsetting is the would-be customers are confused by the detour signs posted at 15th Street and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

'Our sales have dropped 35 percent immediately from July 19th,' she said. 'We had our worst tea tasting ever with merely a few attendees.'

Toyota of Tampa Bay, situated on nearly 20 acres east of the railroad crossing, has struggled while trying to lure customers from the interstate even though it has a rear entrance from 131st Avenue.

President Brett Morgan estimated the company has spent $50,000 on advertising - billboards, directional signs and direct mail - telling people how to find the detour entrance.

'That's money we could have spent telling people to come down and buy one of our cars,' he said. 'And this is at a time when we have less coming in.'

New cars are selling, but the used car and service departments have taken a hit, he said. 'We're doing the best we can with a tough situation,' Morgan said.

The first weekend was slow, so for the second weekend, the dealership changed its approach. It held an 'under construction' sale to poke fun at the situation. Employees wore hard hats. 'We decided we might as well embrace it,' Morgan said.

At the two-week mark, he expects to have a better idea of the projected loss. But he doesn't need a balance sheet to tell him that a salesman who usually works on commission isn't selling any cars if he's posted at the back entrance with a walkie-talkie.

http://carrollwood2.tbo.com/content/2007/aug/04/cw-fletcher-construction-going-well/?news

[USF03]

That's just fixing the railroad crossing.  Everything from 275 to 75 could use a new coat.

[USFishin]

It's about freakin' time!  Fowler has needed repaving for at least 5 years now.  In some places it's smoother driving on a dirt road than on Fowler.

[USF03]

It would be nice if they added a better way to get across Fletcher.  Fowler has that crazy ped bridge that no one uses... 2+ people have been hit at the Palm dr crossing.

[Guest]

It would be nice if they added a better way to get across Fletcher.  Fowler has that crazy ped bridge that no one uses... 2+ people have been hit at the Palm dr crossing.

The bridge goes from Pizzo Elementary to MOSI and was designed for the kids at that school...  Crossing Fletcher isn't a problem -- if people cross correctly.  I am betting the 2+ people it at Palm Drive were not following the signals correctly.