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Construction Affects High School

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By HAROLD VALENTINE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 8, 2007

Updated: 12/06/2007 05:55 pm

CITRUS PARK - A large construction project on Gunn Highway, which began in November and is slated to last until Aug. 28, has had an immediate effect on Sickles High School.

The work is on Gunn between Hixon Road and Keystone Crossing Boulevard. Sickles sits just north of Hixon.

"If you don't need to come to Sickles, don't do it," school Principal Jake Russell said. "Have your children ride the bus."

Hillsborough County spokesman Steve Valdez said the $10.4 million project will extend Sheldon's four lanes as it turns into Gunn, starting at Hixon, and north until South Mobley Road.

He said that although it looked like there were four lanes in front of Sickles, Gunn tapered into two lanes just south of the Gunn and Ehrlich Road intersection.

"Now it's going to open up the way it should've been, which is four lanes," Valdez said.

Russell estimated parents dropping off students at Sickles have been delayed 15 to 20 minutes by the project. He said the major entrance into the school - the Gunn and Ehrlich intersection - often is clogged with traffic. Hixon used to alleviate incoming traffic but now acts only as a one-way outlet.

"If you come to school at 6:45 a.m. it's pretty smooth," Russell said. "If you arrive at 7:15 a.m., you're going to be stuck in line until after school starts."

Construction starts at 9 a.m. and lasts until 4:30 p.m. Russell said the afternoons are worse than the mornings.

Sandy Stewart, a route coordinator for the county's school transportation, said buses serving Sickles, which also serve Bryant Elementary, mostly have been on time. She said in some instances buses may have been 10 to 15 minutes late, but before the start of school.

"Students are getting to school on time," Stewart said. "If not at the time they normally do then by the time the bell rings."

She said notification was sent to parents regarding potential delays, and she hasn't received complaints.

Russell said he is concerned about students crossing the construction zone to get to Walgreens. Instead of crossing only Gunn, they have to cross Gunn and Ehrlich because of the work. But he added students know what they are doing. "They're fine," he said.

When the project is finished, Russell said the school's entrance and parking lots will be put to better use and will be more navigable.

"Once it's all done it's going to be great," Russell said. "But you have to pay for the price of progress."

Other county road projects include:

•Linebaugh Avenue between Countryway Boulevard and Race Track Road, where additional lanes are being added. That may involve alternating traffic in between rush hours until Dec. 29.

•The replacement of telephone poles along Hutchinson Road between Pennington and Carey roads may also slow traffic until March 30.

•Until Dec. 14, Bearss Avenue may see delays between Florida Avenue and Winding Creek Drive.

•Woodbridge Circle is undergoing curb and gutter repair until Jan. 18, between Woodbridge Boulevard and San Luis Court.

•Construction on Lake Magdalene, between Lake Magdalene Drive's cul-de-sac and Armenia Avenue, is going on until Jan. 2.

•Guardrail repair continues along two parts of Anderson Road in Town 'N Country - between Crenshaw Street and Tampa West Boulevard as well as between Arbor Ridge Drive and Elmfield Drive.

•Bridge maintenance on West Waters Avenue between Redbraes Drive and Montague Street continues until Jan. 4.

TRAFFIC CONCERNS?

Are there local traffic or road issues that concern you? Construction projects you wonder about, or hazards other drivers should know about? If so, contact reporter Harold Valentine at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine @tampatrib.com.

Reporter Harold Valentine can be reached at (813) 865-1526 or hvalentine@tampatrib.com.

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