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Road Project Needs Trickle Of Feedback

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By HAROLD VALENTINE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 19, 2008

TOWN 'N COUNTRY - After a meeting about drainage problems at Armenia Avenue and Armenia Court, Hillsborough County officials still are looking for resident feedback.

That's because no residents attended the meeting that was held early in the project's phase for feedback.

Project manager William Hand said the intersection floods during heavy rain because "there's nowhere for the water to go." He said the problem was magnified in 2004 during a busy hurricane season.

Hand and his consultant, Elie Araj of Tampa-based Applied Sciences, want to know whether residents are aware of the problem, the extent of flooding, where flooding may expand and how often it occurs.
Araj said he wants to know from residents how severe rainwater pools at the intersection and what might be causing it.

"We don't want to start the project here and have someone come back and say, 'Why aren't you fixing this?'" Araj said. "And we don't want to spend money we don't have to spend."

Hand said another hurdle is that although Armenia is a county road, the intersection lies within the Tampa city limits. "What I've discovered is that, historically, whenever there's a problem right on the line, we tend to push each other back and forth - 'go talk to the city; go talk to the county,'" Hand said. "What I want to do is meet that at a head. I want to fix the problem as opposed to shoving it off."
Araj added that cooperation between the county and city is vital to the project's success.

With no recent resident input, Araj said he will continue his study with information on file, such as the area's hydrology and complaint records.

Hand does not know what the project will cost.

"Once we get an alternative we want to pursue we can develop a cost estimate from there," he said.

Hand said signs will be put up around the intersection for another public meeting when the project progresses. In the meantime, he is looking for resident feedback and can be reached at (813) 307-1824 or at handwt@hillsboroughcounty .org.
Roadway projects in progress include:

•In Carrollwood, evening and early morning drivers face single- and double-lane closings, northbound and southbound, because of resurfacing on North Dale Mabry Highway between Waters and Fletcher avenues. The closings will be 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. until June.

•Telephone poles and wires are being replaced along Hutchinson Road from Carey to Pennington roads between rush hours until March 30.

•At Gunn Highway and Normandie Road, TECO will replace power poles until Jan. 31.

•On Gunn Highway, between Keystone Crossing Boulevard and Hixon Road, road improvements continue until Aug. 29.

•In Lutz, Cypress Lane from Estes Road to U.S. 41 will be resurfaced Monday through Friday.

•In Town 'N Country, power poles are being installed along Memorial Highway from Kings Point Road to Little River Drive until Jan. 31.

•Portions of Waters Avenue continue to undergo various projects. Between Northbridge and Riverwood boulevards, the eastbound outside lane will have closings until Feb. 8; between Rustic Drive and Twelve Oaks Boulevard, the eastbound outside lane will see closures until Feb. 4; between Benjamin and Anderson roads, a bus stop installation keeps crews busy until Feb. 15; and at Woodland Center Boulevard between Bald Cypress Place and Waters Avenue, sidewalk and driveway installations are being done from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. until June 6.

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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