HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — Drivers will soon notice a new traffic signal on a busy stretch of County Line Road at the border of Hillsborough County and Pasco County.
Constance Holmes passes through the intersection of County Line Road and Trout Creek Drive two to three times a week. She noticed construction beginning earlier this year, but when it seemed to her that work stalled, she emailed our Driving Tampa Bay Forward tip line to get answers.
“They need to finish this intersection,” said Holmes. “It’s very dangerous.”
Vik Bhide, City of Tampa Smart Mobility Manager, says the project is on schedule, but construction started later than officials would’ve liked for several reasons.
DRIVING TAMPA BAY FORWARD | The latest headlines on safety and infrastructure in the Tampa Bay area
Bhide says the time between an order being placed and delivery has stretched from six to eight weeks to six to eight months. And, it can be difficult to find and coordinate subcontractors because there is so much construction going on across the region.
“With a traffic signal, you’ve got pavement work, steel work, electrical work, utilities,” said Bhide. “So, it was a whole bunch of factors.”
Bhide says in addition to making the intersection more safe for drivers and pedestrians, the light will prioritize fire trucks from a new station nearby.
“This is a dual benefit,” said Bhide. “Not only will we be able to support the fire station, but this will also be good for pedestrians because we will have crosswalks in all four directions in a very heavily trafficked area."
The signal expected to be activated in September. Holmes is relieved to see progress.
“This is going to be terrific for the intersection and very necessary,” Holmes said.
