Whole Foods Construction, County Median Project Moving Forward

If you've driven down Northdale Boulevard lately, you've probably seen the signature green and white "Whole Foods Market" sign perched along Northdale Boulevard.

The natural and organic food chain, which has one other Tampa Bay location on South Dale Mabry Highway, between the Northdale Executive Center and SunTrust Bank, just west of North Dale Mabry Highway.

The exact date for the store's opening is unknown.

Meanwhile, Hillsborough County officials say they are moving forward with a , from Dale Mabry to Premiere Drive, in order make room for the excess traffic that is expected. with a county official caused contention among residents, some of whom worried that a proposed removal of trees in the area for the project would be detrimental to the environment and the area's appeal.

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According to county officials, the median at Altimira Drive is proposed to be modified to eliminate northbound left turns from Altimira Drive onto Northdale Boulevard. A westbound left turn into the Whole Foods Store also is proposed to be added through the median modifications.

"We will have to do it before the store opens," said Steve Valdez, a county spokesman. "They are opening this fall, so sometime this summer, we've got to get to it."

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