A project aimed at renewing part of the heavily-traveled interstate system along Florida’s west coast is expected to finish in late summer of 2001.

That’s according to Kris Carson, a spokesperson with District Seven of the Florida Department of Transportation. Carson said the $5.8-million project began on Aug. 14, 2000 and should take approximately one year. Angelo Iafrate Construction LLC, based in Baton Rouge, LA, is the contractor on the project, Carson said.

The FDOT spokesperson said the goal of the work is to resurface 1.7 mi. (2.7 km) of Interstate 275 in southern Pinellas County.

“The ride-ability of the road has decreased,” Carson said. “The roadway has deteriorated, leading to the need for this project.”

Carson said 25 to 30 workers would be employed at any given time during the life of the project. The work, known as rigid pavement reconstruction, will take place mostly at night to avoid traffic tie-ups along the busy interstate.

“The majority of work associated with this project will be done at night in order to keep lanes open during the high use periods of the day. Lane closures will occur between 7:30 p.m. and 7 a.m. as needed,” FDOT documents state.

Carson said a small number of heavy equipment is in use at any given time. She said front-end loaders and dump trucks would be used to lift and remove the old road surface. Pavers will be used in the actual resurfacing work while grinders will be used to at the end of the project to grind the entire work area, Carson said. Motor graders also will be employed in grading median and ditch areas.

FDOT documents state the work area involves I-275 from St. Petersburg’s 54th Avenue South to 26th Avenue South. The project will also include resurfacing parts of 54th Avenue South near the interstate and a section of 26th Avenue South. The highway’s rehabilitation will also involve resurfacing the entrance and exit ramps and the installation of mast arm signals at the 54th Avenue/34th Street exit ramp.

Other improvements planned as part of the project include upgrading existing guardrails to meet newer standards, minor drainage work and new signs and pavement markings.

Interstate 275 is the main highway connecting the city of Tampa with St. Petersburg. The highway is used daily by commuters and business traffic and on the weekends by tourists and sun-seekers traveling to Pinellas County’s Gulf Coast beaches.

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