St. Pete drivers, your commute might just be looking up. The City of St. Petersburg announced the restoration of northbound lanes on 66th St. N, promising a return to normality for local traffic following a significant water main break earlier in the week. As reported on the City of St. Petersburg official website, the fix should be done before Saturday rolls in, a swift turnaround considering the interruption began on a Wednesday.
While northbound lanes have been a no-go zone, causing all sorts of drives home to be rerouted, twisted, and turned, the southbound traffic is flowing again as all lanes of 66th St. N are open, and crews are working double-time to clear the northbound closures early Saturday morning. Albeit a welcome update, the ongoing works will continue to impact travel routes and times in the area, with heavy traffic and detours sticking around like a bad cold. Motorists are being nudged toward finding alternate routes to circumvent the gridlock.
The water woes that started it all is a disruption from an 8-inch water main. But it's not all bad news on the utility front—the city’s communications ensure that despite the roadblocks, residents won't be facing any service interruptions or disruptions to their water supply.
For those who live by their traffic apps and local alerts, the City recommends keeping an eye on their social media handle @StPeteFL for real-time updates, traffic tips, and probably the joyous announcement when that last orange cone is picked up and cars start moving northbound again. The City of St. Petersburg statement shows a nod of thanks to residents and travelers for their patience and cooperation during the trials of infrastructure and the necessary evils of repair.
