Beginning in October, the Platt Street Bridge connecting Bayshore Boulevard and Swann Avenue across the Hillsborough River to the Tampa Convention Center and east will close for more than 100 days.
Access to Harbour Island and
Davis Islands will temporarily be affected as will pedestrian, bicycle and automobile traffic movement to and from small businesses around the Convention Center neighborhood connecting downtown with South Tampa.
Phase one and two of the $13.8 million project, funded by
Community Investment Tax proceeds and federal grants, started in January 2011 and has included separate closures of both the north and south sides of the bridge with additional lane closures when necessary.
Phase three is set to begin in October -- a specific date yet to be announced -- and will close the entire bridge for 105 days, allowing contractors to open the drawbridge and perform replacement work on its components. Major repairs to the bridge include the reconditioning and replacement of mechanical bridge elements, the electrical bridge control system and bridge roadway deck grating, as well as structural concrete and steel repairs.
According to Antonio Amadeo,
Davis Islands Civic Association traffic and safety chair, the Civic Association has been working on behalf of residents, meeting with the city, county and Tampa General Hospital to better understand the impact, raise questions and voice concerns.
"We will continue to do so in the coming weeks as we believe more options are required to lessen the impact [of the closure] and assure safety during this time and the hurricane season," says Amadeo. "Being informed about this event will help lessen inconvenience and prepare us for any eventuality."
Amadeo suggests residents become familiar with alternate routes using an online
detour map. Information on closures and alternative routes can also be found by calling the City of Tampa at (813) 635-5400.
Writer:
Alexis Quinn Chamberlain
Source: Antonio Amadeo,
Davis Islands Civic Association
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