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Pink flags are preparation for bike lanes

 
Published March 15, 2013

What's happening along 30th Avenue N between 34th Street and 49th Street? Residents have recently noticed pink flags in front of some homes and some wonder if a widening project is in the works.

The city is conducting a survey and preliminary design in preparation for a small widening project to facilitate future bicycle lanes, according to Mike Frederick, St. Petersburg's transportation manager.

"As you know, the existing bicycle lane is not continuous between 34th Street and 66th Street. This project will provide additional pavement width where needed to provide a continuous dedicated bicycle lane in both directions," Frederick said last week. The road widening work is scheduled to start some time in 2014.

My concern is about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street N. From Fifth Avenue to 94th Avenue N, it is one patch on top of another of grooved and worn roadway, especially from 62nd Avenue to 94th Avenue. Who is responsible for this roadway, and when will it be repaved as they did on 49th Street?

Sylvia Fies

Thomas Gibson, St. Petersburg's director of engineering, says there are indeed plans to resurface Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street N from 62nd Avenue to 94th Avenue. Work will start in late 2014 or early 2015. Storm drainage improvements designed to reduce street flooding will be included in the plans for construction along the MLK corridor between 83rd and 90th avenues, and the resurfacing will be coordinated to follow the utility work. Drainage improvements are to begin some time between August and March 2014.

Parking pass drops to $40

Treasure Island's annual beach parking pass has been lowered to $40 from $75, with sales limited to residents of Treasure Island. If you already have a $75 parking pass, you have until the close of business Friday to receive a $35 refund at City Hall, 120 108th Avenue.

Treasure Island spokesman Jeff Jensen said Treasure Island residents and property owners formerly paid $5 to purchase a yearlong pass that allowed parking in beachfront lots and avoidance of the $1.50 per hour parking meter fees.

But, Jensen says, the state's Department of Environmental Protection recently warned Treasure Island that if the parking passes were available to Treasure Island residents only, the city risked losing millions of dollars in beach renourishment funding.

This was the push behind the $75 parking passes that went on sale to the public in January.

Visit the city's website for more information: www.mytreasureisland.org

Barricade watch

Scheduled road and lane closures in North Pinellas this week include:

• Intermittent eastbound lane closures on Marilyn Street from Kerry Drive to Patricia Avenue until Friday due to installation of a water pipeline.

• Lane closures of Sharkey Road from Oberlin Drive to Lake Forest Road from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. through Tuesday due to road work.

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• Ongoing milling and resurfacing work on Alderman Road stretching from Regal Oaks Boulevard to Lakepointe Road is estimated to wrap up Wednesday. Drivers can expect temporary lane closures and delays. The suggested alternate route is to take Highlands Boulevard.

Email Dr. Delay at docdelay@gmail.com to share your traffic concerns, comments and questions or follow @AskDrDelay on Twitter.