Big Bend And US 41 Closed Again This Weekend
Heads Up: Big Bend and US 41 closed again this weekend. This is due to the construction that is in that area.
First off, this is going to be a big mess for the people living in the Apollo Beach, Ruskin, Gibsonton area over the weekend. You need to plan ahead.
Big Bend and US 41 will be closed starting at 9pm Friday, October 7th and will reopen on Monday at 5am (pending weather). There are signs posted near the intersection to give drivers a heads up.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s contractor, Preferred Materials, Inc., will close US 41 (Tamiami Trail) at Big Bend Road (CR 672). This will allow crews to set up a new traffic patterns at this intersection.
During this closure, you will be directed to detour around the work zone. Drivers are being asked to use Gibsonton Drive (Exit 250), I-75 and College Avenue (Exit 240B). Electronic message boards will be directing traffic, but they are asking that you allow for some extra time during the weekend.
This project is on going and those of us that drive this area know. Crews are replacing the asphalt pavement with a durable concrete surface at the intersection. The project should be finished in early 2023. The soon it happens the better. I replaced 3 tires because of nails and 1 windshield. The construction is wrecking vehicles who drive in the area.
This is a $25.6 million project is to be completed by the summer of 2024.
Construction Is Part Of The I-75 Interchange Improvements
Due to so many people moving into this area, they are improving I-75 Interchange. It is an area that backs up during busy hours. You can read more about the changes from FDOT. This project should be completed by the summer of 2025.
Three Florida Roads Are The Worst In The Country
We are not surprised that three roads in Florida made the list of the worst in the country. It seems like we sit in traffic way too much, and after reading this story, well, you’ll be surprised at how much time you loose sitting in traffic.
Found this story from WFLA.com and it was from a study that was done in 2021 from the Vacationer website.
We all know that I-4 is the worst. I-4 hits its biggest slog time in the area between Beachline Expressway to Florida State Road 429, which is a loss of 74 hours per year stuck on the road and unable to go. If you have to travel a lot around Orlando, then you probably lose even more hours, especially if you’re traveling on US-17 South. Another road that makes the top 10. I-95 in Miami also makes the list, the worst part being on I-95 South from I-195 to 51st Street, where you will lose 57 hours.
Well…it’s a lot in Florida, but it’s not L.A. traffic which is absolutely the worse. I-5 South in L.A comes in at #1 on the list.
Launa is part of Tampa Bay's Hometown Morning Krewe on 99.5 WQYK. She has been with the station for 7 years and joined J.R. and Kevin on the morning show 4 years ago. Since then, they have been nominated for not only a CMA but also an ACM. Launa has been in radio for the past 28 years and in the Tampa Bay market for 22 of those years. While working in radio, Launa has also served as an entertainment reporter on a local TV show and has hosted many charity events in the community. Using her popularity from QYK, Launa loves to help raise money for shelter animals and has been a volunteer at local shelters for years. Launa loves the community and writes articles on local news, entertainment, and events and highlights people who are shining in Tampa Bay that she knows others like her would also be interested in reading.