Dale Mabry Paving Will Bring Lane Closures

This story was reported and written by Patch Local Editor John Majeski

Dale Mabry Highway traffic will soon move a little slower for those traveling on its northern-most stretch, but it should all be worth it in the end. 

Lane Construction, the Florida Department of Transportation’s contractor, this week kicked off a $5 million repaving project for the section of asphalt between Van Dyke Road and the Hillsborough-Pasco County line. 

Lane closures will be necessary. FDOT is looking to reduce the impact on drivers, however.

“The closures are not going to be during rush hour,” FDOT spokesman David Botello said.

Specifically, lane closures are not anticipated to occur in the southbound direction between 6:30-10 a.m., and not in the northbound direction between 3:30-8 p.m.

The project will not only benefit motorists but pedestrians, too. New sidewalks will be built on both sides of the highway plus three timber walkways traversing wetlands areas, a FDOT media release said.

It’s hard to say exactly when the project will be finished, Botello said. Some of the unknown factors include weather.

“They’re shooting for Spring of 2014,” Botello said.

Are you excited for new sidewalks? Are they greatly needed in this area of town? Tell us in the comments section below.