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Ideas Posed To Relieve Intersection

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By ELIZABETH LEE BROWN, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 21, 2007

CARROLLWOOD - Consultants hired to study the intersection of Gunn Highway and Linebaugh Avenue are recommending a $2.4 million upgrade to smooth the daily traffic jams.

At a community meeting Nov. 14, HDR Engineering displayed three scenarios to improve safety at the busy intersection.

The proposed improvements would add a second right turning lane for westbound and eastbound traffic on Linebaugh and extend the length of the left turning lane for southbound traffic on Gunn.

That extension would double the capacity for cars waiting for the left turn signal.

The few residents and business owners who attended the meeting said improvements are sorely needed.

"They can't get out," said Maik Tessmann, president of German Motorcars at 3810 W. Linebaugh Ave. The car repair shop is on the south side of Linebaugh, between Gunn and North Dale Mabry highways.

He said many customers wait for a break in eastbound traffic on Linebaugh, but that stretch is frequently clogged with cars waiting to turn left onto North Dale Mabry.

The traffic jams are so bad that some drivers head south on Dale Mabry to take Busch Boulevard and loop around and return to Linebaugh to get into the left turning lane.

Two other construction alternatives were more extensive and would cost $3 million to $4.5 million, but would shave only 6 seconds from the waiting time during peak hours, the preliminary engineering study shows.

Tessmann said he is happy to see the left turning lane at Gunn will be lengthened.

"It's pretty much expected, if you hit that light, you're going to be sitting there for two to three lights," he said.

Edd Arnold, Hillsborough County's project manager, said the overhaul is a safety measure.

"There have been a number of accidents in a short amount of time," he said. "What we want to do is increase the peak hour traffic flow on Linebaugh."
County statistics show the intersection saw 94 vehicle crashes from April 2005 to March 2007.

The project is scheduled in to start in October 2010.

Barbara Moutsatsos, who lives in the Cedarwood subdivision on Linebaugh, said more turning lanes won't solve the backups and the congestion.

"We experience this every day. You've got all these cars backed up every day," she said. "It's a waste of time and money. It's not far enough."

Reporter Elizabeth Lee Brown can be reached at (813) 865-1502 or ebrown@tampatrib.com.

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