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Construction project will take a while

 
The Snell Isle Bridge will be closed April 28 when the St. Anthony’s Triathlon returns.
The Snell Isle Bridge will be closed April 28 when the St. Anthony’s Triathlon returns.
Published April 19, 2013

Can you tell me what kind of construction has been started at the intersection of 54th Avenue S and 31st Street? Also, how long is this construction projected to take until completion?

Barbara Taylor

Work at the intersection of 31st Street and 54th Avenue S is one phase of a major sewer improvement project, which is anticipated to affect traffic with road closures and detours throughout the summer.

City of St. Petersburg engineers said last week that the work at the intersection will continue for about two more weeks, give or take a few days depending on how work progresses, so that puts completion and reopening of this particular section somewhere in the neighborhood of the end of the month/early May.

In the meantime, detours will continue to route traffic onto 22nd Street from southbound 31st Street and 54th Avenue S. Lanes for northbound traffic on 31st Street will remain open, as will the access to Interstate 275 at 54th Avenue S, but expect moving through that location to be slower than usual. Motorists using the interstate are encouraged to use the 62nd Avenue S exit and on-ramps until the intersection reopens.

When does the traffic light go in at Eckerd College? We are impatiently awaiting its arrival.

Eleanor Wolf

The process usually takes about one year from the point that a new traffic signal is approved to actual installation.

"Design is under way, construction should start this summer, however it takes quite a bit of time to get the mast arms ordered and fabricated, so it will depend on that issue,'' said Kris Carson of the state Department of Transportation. "Tentatively the construction should be done by the end of the year."

Triathlon traffic alert

Expect road closures and delays in downtown St. Petersburg April 28, when the annual St. Anthony's Triathlon hits the road for its 30th anniversary. Although most roads will remain open, be prepared for intermittent closures from about 7 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. as police stop traffic to accommodate the more than 3,000 triathletes cycling and running along the race course.

St. Petersburg police officers will be on hand to direct traffic.

Planned road closures include Brightwaters Boulevard between Snell Isle Boulevard and the turnaround in the 1900 block of Brightwaters; Bayshore Drive between Seventh Avenue N and Fifth Avenue S; North Shore Drive NE and Coffee Pot Boulevard between Seventh and 22nd Avenues N; Fifth Avenue S (Dali Boulevard), First to Fourth Streets S.

Intermittent road closures will be in effect for First Avenue S between 28th and First Streets; Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street between 18th Avenue S and Pinellas Point Drive; portions of First, Third, Fourth and Sixth Streets between First Avenue S and Pinellas Point Drive; the Snell Isle Bridge.

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More information is available atSATriathlon.com.

Email Dr. Delay at docdelay@gmail.com or follow Dr. Delay on Twitter @AskDrDelay.