Tampa's Bayshore Boulevard, a popular destination for walkers, runners and bicyclists, is about to get new and extended bike lanes as well as additional grassy median aimed at improving safety.
The project will be completed in three phases, and will improve Bayshore from Gandy Boulevard to Platt Street. While its completion is dependent on funding, the city is pressing forward with Phase One, which will provide for continuous bicycle lanes in both directions between Rome Avenue and Platt Street.
In addition, a four-lane road with a 14-foot grassy median will replace the existing six-lane road between Rome Avenue and the Davis Island Bridge. Other upgrades for Phase One include improving traffic signals and enhancing pedestrian features at the intersections of Bay-to-Bay Boulevard and Platt Street.
"We saw the need to provide for other modes of transportation along Bayshore about eight years ago," says Ben Money of the
City of Tampa's Transportation Division.
The city worked with the
Hillsborough County MPO to request enhancement funds from the state transportation division's
Local Agency Program.
"Once the funding was obtained, the scope of the project could be further defined,'' Money explains. "The design phase was completed in the Spring of 2010."
Phase One is expected to be completed by September 2011. Its construction cost is $1.48 million.
Phase Two of the project will focus on Bayshore from Howard to Rome avenues; Phase Three from north of Gandy to Howard.
Pepper Contracting Services is handling construction.
Writer:
Missy Kavanaugh
Source: Ben Money, City of Tampa
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