Tampa residents should plan for a reroute if they're used to traveling along North Howard Avenue between West Kennedy Boulevard and West St. Louis Street, near Columbus Drive. According to a Hillsborough County announcement, a paving update will close a stretch of road from July 15 to August 5. This work is part of a broader effort to bolster transportation safety and mobility.
The closure, which will allow for full depth reconstruction, and, repaving of North Howard Avenue between West Kennedy Boulevard and West Fig Street is a key phase of the project. Hillsborough County anticipates all work associated with the road closure to wrap up by August 2024, though they caution that bad weather could tweak the timeline.
Motorists who frequent the area won't be left to fend for themselves, with planned detours to guide them around the affected zone. Signage in the vicinity will direct residents to alternate routes for the duration of the closure. The project aims not only at resurfacing but also at implementing a slew of other improvements.
Safety upgrades like rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs) are part of the upgrades and will be installed at several crossings including West Gray Street, West Cass Street, and, West Spruce Street. These devices are pedestrian-activated to aid in safe road crossing. In response to the city officials' requests, a speed limit reduction from 40 mph to 35 mph is also on the docket.
The spruce-up isn't just for drivers; pedestrians and cyclists are considered too with new sidewalks and multimodal facilities incorporated into the project scope. With completion scheduled for August, the impact on local transit is meant to be short-term for a long-term improvement in road safety and functionality.
