RIVERVIEW, Fla. — Drivers can expect continued lane closures on Big Bend Road and U.S. 301 in Hillsborough County.
What You Need To Know
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is working on an intersection improvement project at Big Bend and U.S. 301
Drivers can expect continued lane closures
Crews are also adding additional lanes on Big Bend Road
Nearby businesses say that the road work is affecting customers
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is working on an intersection improvement project at Big Bend and U.S. 301.
At the Milkshake Factory on U.S. 301 in Riverview, owner Michael Longman is used to serving up sweet treats. But he says the nearby traffic can make it feel like a rocky road at times.
“The local people that live here, which is our target audience, Riverview has a large population. They just don’t want to go out on the roads because it’s chaotic,” Longman said.
As Riverview’s population has grown, so too has the traffic. Recently, Longman says the road construction is leading to some businesses melting away.
“Drivers don’t want to get off. Once they’re in there and dealing with the traffic, they don’t want to come into the parking lot. And these neighboring businesses are feeling the same thing,” Longman said.
FDOT is doing a concrete replacement project there to make the road more durable.
While a lot of that work is done at night, Longman says that still has impacted his business.
“It drops. Because they do a lot of work in the evenings. And that’s when we’re the busiest,” Longman said.
In addition, crews are adding more lanes on Big Bend Road from U.S. 301 to Simmons Loop to help with congestion.
And that shake-up is something Longman is looking forward to.
“I think when the construction is done, not only is it going to aesthetically a lot prettier to look at when you get off the highway, but the people locally are going to want to come back out. It’s going to help drastically,” Longman said.
FDOT says the project is expected to be done by late next year.