VALRICO, Fla. — Two construction projects only one mile apart in Hillsborough County are causing drivers to find their own detours — including using a gas station as a cut-through.
ABC Action News spoke with the owner of the BP gas station at the corner of Lithia Pinecrest and Lumsden roads about the dangerous cut through route.
Deepak Sood tells us drivers fly through the gas station like its a highway to get around the construction mess during the morning and evening gridlock.
Sood said there has even been accidents, but he said it's considered private property so he can't get much help from officials.
The construction at the Lumsden intersection is part of a $16.9 million project that started in June of 2017, where officials plan to add additional lanes.
While that extensive project is in the works, the county is working on another project just a mile down on Lumsden at Valrico Road.
The repaving project has shut down Valrico Road from Lumsden to Durant roads.
As part of Driving Tampa Bay Forward, we received several tips about the timing of the repaving project during the major reconstruction project of Lumsden Road.
A county spokesperson tells us the county is now using a new way to repave the roads. They say this is their second project using the new technique.
The county tells us they are doing a method of ripping up the road and then reusing it to make a new surface. This way of fixing a road is different than before because county workers use to tear up the road, haul it away and then bring in new asphalt.
Valrico Road is shut down in both directions, but the project was initially only supposed to be a lane closure instead of a road closure.
However, the new technique of repaving led to the entire road being closed.
The project also became bigger because the county didn't just have to resurface the road, but they also had to redo the base.
The repaving project will continue on Valrico Road towards FL-60, but county leaders say it should not have such an impact.
To see a full list of scheduled repaving projects, click here.
Information for the Lumsden & Lithia Pinecrest project:
- For the southbound approach on Lithia Pinecrest Road
- The addition of a right turn lane, an additional left turn lane and an additional through lane.
- Add raised medians and concrete traffic separators.
- For the northbound approach on Lithia Pinecrest Road
- Add an additional through lane, an additional left turn lane.
- Remove the existing temporary traffic channelizer and replace it with a concrete traffic separator that runs the full length of the left turn lanes.
- Bicycle lanes will be installed on both the north and southbound approaches.
- For the eastbound approach on Lumsden Road
- Add an additional through lane, an additional right turn lane and extend the length of the existing right turn lane.
- Extend the length of the existing left turn lane.
- Replace the existing medians and traffic separators.
- For the westbound approach on Lumsden Road
- Add a right turn lane and extend the length of the existing left turn lane.
- Add raised medians and concrete traffic separators.
- Modify the connection of Durant Road and Lumsden Road to a right-in / right-out only configuration.
