Each Thursday, Traffic Reporter Meredyth Censullo answers your questions, and responds to complaints, about anything commute related. This week, she’s responding to a question from Kim, who asked:
Why is Maydell Drive Bridge still closed? It’s been two years! It causes traffic jams, and Palm River Road is torn up in spots.
The bridge over the Tampa bypass canal was built in 1968. Located just sound of State Road 60, and the Lee Roy Selmon Expressway, once connected traffic to Palm River Road and other points south. The bridge was closed in late 2015 after an underwater inspection found the support system to be unstable. The report found the substructure was missing a section, deteriorating, and that spalling had seriously affected primary structural components. The report also determined that local failures were possible.
Prior to its closure, an estimated 4,000 vehicles crossed the bridge daily.
A Hillsborough County spokesperson tells News Channel 8 that all options are being evaluated, but right now a replacement for Maydell Bridge is still in the development phase, which includes a new traffic study.
A public outreach component of the development phase is tentatively scheduled to begin in early 2019, and design, land acquisition, and permitting is projected to be completed by the end of January, 2020.
Right now, construction is slated for April 2020, with completion by the end of April, 2022.
Hillsborough County has included funding for the resurfacing of Palm River Road is included its fiscal year 2019 resurfacing budget.
If you have a question about road construction or traffic troubles, contact Meredyth at mcensullo@wfla.com, or on Facebook.
