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Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

Lorrie Lykins writes Dr. Delay, a column about traffic and commuting in the bay area. Send her tips, story ideas and questions at the email address below.

E-mail: docdelay@gmail.com

  1. Work proceeding on 54th Ave. N at 79th and 81st streets to improve pedestrian crossing

    05/11/13RoadsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    We reported in February that the county was studying the pedestrian crossing on 54th Avenue N at 79th and 81st streets in response to requests from residents. A pedestrian fatality in January and more appeals by residents brought the outdated crosswalk to the attention of the County Commission and state Rep. Larry Ahern, whose inquiries prompted an investigation. Construction to improve the crosswalks began at the end of March....

    A new location, signs and a median are part of the redesigned crosswalk on 54th Ave. N near 79th and 81st streets.

  2. Neighborhood association calendar

    05/07/13EventsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

  3. Changes coming to First Street N in St. Petersburg

    05/04/13RoadsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    Drivers who use First Street between Ninth and 22nd avenues N should be aware of upcoming changes to that section of road. The changes were prompted by residents of the immediate area through the neighborhood association, and are slated to be implemented by the city in the near future. Would you please announce the changes as soon as possible so drivers can begin familiarizing themselves with these major changes?...

    The speed limit on the Belleair Causeway is limited by ordinances in Belleair Bluffs.

  4. Dr. Delay: Cars speeding around circle near St. Pete armory a concern

    04/27/13RoadsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    We have lived in the vicinity of 30th Avenue S and 37th Street for the past year. This intersection (by the National Guard Armory) has a rotary structure which I refer to as the "circle of death." There are "YIELD" signs in place, but the majority of motorists seem to believe this means "drive as fast as you can and bluff everyone else."

    Recently there was a portable sign on the northbound portion of 37th Street with a "Yield at intersection'' message, but that lasted a week or two at best. I was told that years ago this was a regular four-way stop and it makes me wonder why that was ever changed. I will go out of my way to avoid this intersection because each encounter is an adventure I don't really need. Does the city have any plans for this intersection and/or rationale as to why they made the change in the first place?...

  5. Construction project will take a while

    04/20/13RoadsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    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....

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

  6. Work at Roosevelt and Ulmerton part of road widening

    04/19/13NewsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    Do you have any news on the work being done at Roosevelt Boulevard and Ulmerton Road? The overpass looks to be changing or added to.

    Elaine Pettit

    Here are the details: Work to widen Ulmerton Road between 38th Street and Interstate 275 to three through-lanes in each direction will include widening of Roosevelt Boulevard between 28th Avenue and Ulmerton Road, expanding it to three lanes in each direction as well....

    A new Roosevelt Boulevard overpass at Ulmerton Road and additional through-lanes are part of a project aimed at easing congestion in the area. The work is expected to be completed in spring 2016.

  7. Planted medians slow Fourth Street N

    04/13/13NewsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    I was wondering if you knew what could possibly be the reasoning behind all of the planted medians that St. Petersburg is adding on Fourth Street between 30th Avenue N and Fifth Avenue N. They seem haphazardly dispersed and in some cases are way too close to one another. This is already causing major issues with drivers having to slow way down in order to make a left turn between these medians. These planted medians carry maintenance costs and further slowdowns can be expected when the watering trucks arrive. It seems to me that this is yet another case of St. Pete trying to make its roads slower and less passable for motorists. Could you please help us understand the reasoning here?...

    St. Petersburg has installed medians on Fourth Street N between Fifth and 30th avenues. “Motorists will need to change their driving behavior and keep to the posted 35 mph speed limit as the corridor changes from a pass-through route to a business destination area,” says transportation manager Mike Frederick.

  8. Florida Statute requires full stop at red light

    04/06/13RoadsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    Can you have someone explain the law on making right turns on red? I always believed you had to come to a complete stop before making a turn. A couple of recent cases have come up that have me confused. One is the red-light camera case in St. Petersburg where a ticket was overturned and the other was an explanation I received regarding making a legal right turn when there is an illuminated box with a right arrow inside a red circle with a slash. What is the law in these situations?...

  9. Community association schedule

    04/02/13NewsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

  10. Pinellas Bayway bridge demolition to start soon

    03/30/13RoadsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    Would you have any idea how noisy or intrusive the tearing down of the old Pinellas Bayway bridge will be? My husband and I (and dogs) plan on wintering again next year in the Don CeSar community near the bridge but I'm concerned the peace and quiet of the neighborhood will be gone. We would rent farther away if that was the case.

    Tomye Anne Barrow

    Demolition of the bridge will likely be raucous, but it is scheduled to take place very soon, so snowbirds preparing to head back up North should miss the fun....

    The state Department of Transportation says once all traffic on the Pinellas Bayway bridge has been switched to the new span at left, the old bridge will be torn down and then a second span will be built.

  11. Bryan Dairy work is a temporary fix

    03/23/13RoadsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    They did some sort of repair on Bryan Dairy Road after it was paved east of the railroad tracks almost in front of TD Bank. The patched area appears like it was done by some amateur. Driving over it feels like they didn't put enough asphalt on and it is lower and rougher than the rest of the road. What a way to ruin a nice new road. Is there a way to correct this problem?

    Jerry Klos...

    According to a county public works official, the patch repair for the waterline leak on Bryan Dairy Road is being watched, and once conditions are stable, a larger permanent patch will be applied.

  12. Pink flags are preparation for bike lanes

    03/16/13 Public Safety By Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    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....

  13. Neighborhood associations calendar, March 13-19

    03/12/13 Human Interest By Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

  14. See a blue reflector? Look for a hydrant

    03/09/13RoadsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent

    I'm a recent transplant from the Seattle area, where I retired from the Washington State Department of Transportation. I have noticed blue reflectors on the street where I live, and I've also seen them on arterials and state routes around Clearwater and Dunedin such as U.S. 19, Drew Street, and Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard. The reflectors occur about every quarter of a mile, but do not occur adjacent to any common feature. Can you help me understand the function of these reflectors?...

  15. Neighborhood news

    02/26/13NewsBy Lorrie Lykins, Times Correspondent