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Politics & Government

Roadway Construction Ahead in Carrollwood Village

An intensive roadway improvement project costing just under $1 million is slated to begin within days.

Hillsborough County officials are poised to pave roads winding through Carrollwood Village, says public works spokesman Steve Valdez.

He says the project will cost slightly less than $1 million, and includes South Village Drive from Dale Mabry Highway to Ehrlich Road, all of West Village Drive and a portion of North Village Drive. Project costs are offset by the county's 1-cent gasoline tax.

Most of the milling and pavement work will be undertaken between the morning and evening rush hours, says Valdez.

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“That’s roughly 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.,” he says.

However, work on South Village Drive between two shopping centers at North Dale Mabry Highway will be completed between approximately 9:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m. to minimize traffic disruption, says Valdez.

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"That allows us to keep that roadway open during the day," he says.

Posted signs will give residents about one week’s notice before nighttime work begins. Overall, the roadway improvements are  expected to take several weeks. The exact start date - currently predicted for some time during the first full week of March - is dictated by when current projects are complete.

Valdez touted the necessity of the project.

“The Carrollwood Village roads were micro-surfaced in 2000, to extend the life of the current roadways five to six years, “he says.

That means they have exceeded their predicted life span.

“Public roadways in the village- like many roads throughout Florida were built in a lowlands area, where the groundwater is very close to the surface,” Valdez says.

When water levels increase during the rainy season, the pressure of cars driving over hairline pavement cracks caused by water seepage squishes the water upward, thus creating rapid deterioration and eventually, potholes. It's why Carrollwood Village residents worked hard to get the roadway project on the public works agenda. Valdez thinks the work, when finished, will bring positive improvements to those traveling through Carrollwood Village.

Some business owners concur.

On Monday, Tony Gallo was overseeing operations at Anthony’s Coal-Fired Pizza  in the plaza adjacent to both South Village Drive and Dale Mabry Highway. Any change in traffic flow could affect the popular eatery, he says. 

"Main access is important to us, " said Gallo. “But doing the construction is helpful to our business, which closes at 10:00 p.m.," said the regional manager.

In spite of the efforts being made to accomodate traffic flow, while also making the necessary road improvements, Valdez urges residents to be patient.

“Some of the grade-textured (traffic-calming areas) will disappear for awhile," he says.

That’s because the new asphalt needs about four months to cure, according to Valdez.  Once that happens, another contractor will replace the textured grades.

Valdez predicts the wait will be worthwhile.

“From both a ride and an aesthetics perspective, the roadway improvements should offer a marked improvement."

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