Free hip, knee replacements help 17 walk better
TAMPA – Surgeons at AdventHealth Tampa and AdventHealth Carrollwood recently partnered with Florida Orthopaedic Institute and Pioneer Medical Foundation to provide 17 free hip and knee replacement surgeries for uninsured Tampa Bay residents through Operation Walk USA.
Surgeries were completed over two days at AdventHealth Tampa and AdventHealth Carrollwood by volunteer orthopedic surgeons and care teams.
At AdventHealth Tampa, eight surgeries were performed by Spencer Smith and Brian Palumbo.
At AdventHealth Carrollwood, nine surgeries were performed by Christopher Grayson, Stephen Lyons, and Brian Palumbo.
More than 200 AdventHealth team members volunteered their time across both locations to support patients throughout the surgical and recovery process.
Operation Walk USA is a national humanitarian program that provides free total hip and knee replacements to eligible uninsured adults. Since its inception, the organization has helped more than 900 patients nationwide
Road safety improvements underway in Ybor City
TAMPA – The city of Tampa and its Community Redevelopment Agency have begun making changes to make Ybor City roads safer, taking measures intended to slow traffic in the district.
The changes were prompted by a fatal crash in November.
The first step includes repaving a portion of Seventh Avenue from Nebraska Avenue to Nuccio Parkway. Additionally, 36 on-street parking spaces and two bus bays will be added to narrow the roadway — naturally slowing drivers as they approach the Ybor City gateway. Additional paving and more on-street parking is also planned in other areas of Ybor. In total, 3.75 lane-miles will be repaved and nearly 45 new parking spaces will be added in the area.
Speed limits along the corridor will also be reduced.
The roughly $400,000 paving project will be completed by local contractor Preferred Materials within the first two weeks of March.
Other planned safety upgrades include continuing the CRA’s rebricking of Seventh Avenue and installing crash-rated bollards at high-volume intersection crosswalks.
Stormwater repair to close portion of Morris Bridge Road
HILLSBOROUGH – A portion of Morris Bridge Road has been closed for replacement of a stormwater drain pipe under the road.
Repair work began March 2 and is expected to last for nearly two weeks.
Only a small segment of Morris Bridge Road will be closed just north of Pictorial Park Drive. All homes and businesses will be accessible by Morris Bridge Road either from the north or south.
The detours for commuters can be extensive. To avoid congestion and delays, drivers can use State Road 56, Cross Creek Boulevard, and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to get around the work area.