Will The ‘Rural’ Highway’s Flooding Following Hurricane Milton & Clear Want For Widening Ever Be Addressed?
What are a few of the issues New Tampa and Wesley Chapel have in frequent?
Along with automobile washes, nail salons and self-storage services, each rely closely on two “main” north-south roadways — the eight- (in New Tampa) or six-lane (in Wesley Chapel) Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and the principally two-lane Morris Bridge (MB) Rd — as vital day by day journey routes.
Because of the explosive progress in each Ok-Bar Ranch/Easton Park in New Tampa and, particularly, within the plethora of latest developments in and close to Wesley Chapel, dependence upon MB Rd. has continued to develop yr after yr.
Nonetheless, touring on the winding, two-lane MB Rd. from the Fletcher Ave. exit off I-75 in Hillsborough up into Pasco County generally is a white-knuckle expertise for any motorist, bicyclist or pedestrian — and for greater than only one cause.
Improvement has brought on this previously rural roadway to be tormented by flooding (leading to closures), in addition to by heavy visitors, security considerations, poor highway situations and another foolish stuff that commuters in each New Tampa and Wesley Chapel must cope with day-after-day.
With three mattresses tied to a roof, even a single Nissan Altima going 25 mph at rush hour can create havoc on MB Rd., producing a quarter-mile-long backup of offended drivers, all inching over the centerline to see if they will cross. Sure, we noticed this whereas standing outdoors our car and taking images from the doorway to Cory Lake Isles!
We reached out to each Hillsborough County and Metropolis of Tampa governmental officers to search out out their ideas, and if there are any “actual” tasks really shifting ahead to enhance MB Rd. We offered them with a listing of questions that did generate some responses.
We particularly requested if there have been any deliberate capability or security enchancment tasks within the works, particularly any widening plans to deal with future volumes, or how the county (since MB Rd. is a county highway that serves each metropolis and county residents, as does BBD) plans to deal with these visitors volumes which are anticipated to considerably enhance over subsequent few years, on account of improvement on the north finish — primarily the persevering with growth of Ok-Bar Ranch and the large Two Rivers improvement, which is absolutely simply getting began constructing close to MB Rd. each north and south of the Hillsborough-Pasco county line.
Briefly, much-needed flooding countermeasures have been put in (following the multi-week shutdown of MB Rd. north of Cross Creek [CC] Blvd. following Hurricane Milton final October) and each a security undertaking and resurfacing undertaking are coming, however any actual car capability/ modernization tasks are nonetheless up within the air. District 7 Tampa Metropolis Council member Luis Viera, in his remaining time period in his seat, no less than has an thought about the best way to handle the on a regular basis visitors on MB Rd.
Councilman Viera’s Perspective
Though MB Rd. is completely a county roadway, roughly 1/3 of the individuals residing alongside the roadway reside inside Tampa’s metropolis limits, with all of these residents (no less than till the Hillsborough portion of Two Rivers begins constructing) residing within the city-based New Tampa developments of Cory Lake Isles, Easton Park and Ok-Bar Ranch.
As such, we have been grateful to interview Viera to get his opinion about a few of the county’s responses, and what he’d wish to see accomplished as a confirmed champion of progressive intergovernmental (that means metropolis and county) collaboration.
He particularly notes that there’s a, “Have to modernize Morris Bridge. The Metropolis has to work with the county on long- time period options,” indicating that county officers can’t, and shouldn’t must, attempt to repair MB Rd. all by themselves.
Viera believes that one of many largest points up to now (with reference to capability enhancements) has been the apparent environmental considerations, since MB Rd. winds previous 1000’s of acres of a number of county parks (Flatwoods, Morris Bridge Park, and so forth.). He explains that, “We have to be respectful of the setting, however the environmental points have been the largest roadblock (to enhancing MB Rd.).”
Viera clearly believes that NOW is the time for a change. “You understand what?,” he says. “Subsequent week [the week of March 24, or after we went to press with this issue], I’m going to make a movement to Metropolis Council,” with reference to making a shared imaginative and prescient for MB Rd. by having the town attain out to the county.
For the reason that highway really winds by way of two counties, Viera says he additionally plans to succeed in out to District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman (who represents the portion of Wesley Chapel on to the west and north of the county line at MB Rd.) to additionally attempt to get Pasco’s buy-in and assist with that shared imaginative and prescient.
Since a number of locations of worship, and a number of new companies and communities are rapidly popping up alongside the route, he feels the “rural nature” of the highway isn’t maintaining with the instances or its now extra fashionable suburban context.
A Little Historical past
Whereas the unique Morris “Bridge” is lengthy gone, a bridge that was initially situated simply north of the Pasco County line (close to the place an underwhelming field culvert now sits), MB Rd. nonetheless exists as an “previous” rural highway abutted by suburban communities.
How previous? Apparently, greater than 100 years previous! In truth, MB Rd. could also be one of many oldest surviving (and frequently used) county arterial roads in Tampa, coming from a time when maps of the county and state have been extra more likely to present railroads than roads, as a result of that was the first type of transportation for these touring lengthy distances.
With out these primitive roads being proven on maps, their existence, location, and objective needed to be shared by phrase of mouth and/or in newspaper articles, particularly for newer routes. What was written over 100 years in the past about Morris Bridge as a fledgling route was completely fascinating.
In its June 1, 1923, version, The Dade Metropolis Banner (picture, left) had the next article:
GOOD ROUTE OPEN TO TAMPA
BY WAY OF MORRIS BRIDGE
“The latest heavy rains having made the route [where S.R. 39 sits today] to Tampa by the use of Crystal Springs and Plant Metropolis impassable, there was appreciable inquiry as to a different route that may very well be utilized by events who discovered it needed to go to the South Florida metropolis and didn’t care to avail themselves of the handy prepare schedules. Plenty of individuals have been making the journey these days by the use of the Morris Bridge and pronounce that route not solely completely satisfactory however a surprisingly good one. It’s about 12 miles shorter than by the use of Plant Metropolis.
To observe this route one turns west on the railroad crossing at Zephyrhills, goes to Will Ryals farm, a couple of mile from city, from there to Jim Hills’ place. Right here take a plain highway working southwest and in any respect forks take the one working in that route. This highway is claimed to be graded the whole distance and, from the Morris Bridge on the county line to Harney has been clayen [sand-clay]. From Harney a brick highway results in Tampa.”
That is humorous, as a result of to this present day, Morris Bridge Rd. nonetheless turns into Harney Rd. at its very southern terminus in Temple Terrace.
Flooding Issues
Talking of flooding and impassable roads, our area assessment confirmed the place repairs had been accomplished when the highway was flooded (and closed) a number of instances final yr. We requested Hillsborough County staffers if these repairs have been everlasting fixes that can cut back flooding and highway closures sooner or later, or simply short-term fixes to restore the harm?
Todd Pratt, who’s with the Hillsborough County Media Relations Division, says that, “The repairs accomplished after Milton have been everlasting fixes that consisted of changing culverts that convey water underneath and throughout Morris Bridge Rd. These culverts had collapsed/washed out throughout the hurricane.”
Time, and the following main wet season, will inform if these repairs will maintain, or if new ones will likely be wanted.
Security Enchancment Venture
Concerning MB Rd. security tasks, Hillsborough senior media relations strategist Chris Wilkerson says that, “Morris Bridge Highway has a deliberate security enchancment undertaking (see beneath) slated to start later this yr. The contract for the undertaking is deliberate to go earlier than the BOCC (Board of County Commissioners) in April. If permitted, the undertaking would handle security considerations on the roadway, together with documented constant excessive charges of velocity and distracted drivers. The undertaking is designed to deal with rushing and motorist lane departure crashes.”
Proposed Security Enhancements – $2.1 million:
• No Passing Zones w/Vertical Delineators
• Reflective & Profiled Lane Line Markings
• Pace Suggestions Indicators, Flashing Beacons for Intersection Forward & Curve Warning & Sign Head Again Plates
• Bike Lane & Security Enhancements at Bridge over Hillsborough River
• Bicycle Indicators and Lane Markings & Wildlife Indicators
In the meantime, Viera says that, “$2.1 million is great, however we have to push that envelope!,” though he says he’s actually pleased to see that “velocity suggestions indicators” and “no passing” enhancements, are a part of the security undertaking, as these would handle points his constituents have mentioned with him.
Prior 1% Surtax to Fund Resurfacing
The final time MB Rd. (no less than north of CC Blvd.) was resurfaced was manner again in 2002. The portion south of CC Blvd. is in considerably higher form, because it was final resurfaced in 2017.
A bodily assessment we performed of the hall famous growing older/deteriorating pavement with potholes, a number of patches, slim, worn or no shoulders, no sidewalks (besides self-funded ones in entrance of some companies) and really slim lane widths at a couple of factors (principally north of Cory Lake Isles approaching and into Pasco County).
So, is MB Rd. on the county’s listing of roadways to be resurfaced? We hadn’t beforehand seen or heard of MB Rd. as being on any 3R (Resurfacing, Restoration, Rehabilitation) undertaking listing.
However, Pratt instructed us, “The Florida Legislature has recognized repaving tasks to be accomplished in Hillsborough County utilizing a portion of the beforehand collected Transportation Surtax funds (see beneath). One of many roads to be repaved is Morris Bridge Highway. The County might want to coordinate this paving to be accomplished together with the security enchancment undertaking.”
Confused? Chances are you’ll recall that again in 2018, Hillsborough County voters had handed a one-cent gross sales tax to fund wanted transportation tasks. This tax ended up being legally challenged, and was discovered to be unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court docket in March 2021. However, by then, the county had already collected about $589 million from native taxpayers.
After the tax was eradicated, state lawmakers went forward and made a plan to separate that collected cash up between county highway enchancment tasks, a Hillsborough tax vacation, reimbursement of the county’s authorized charges, and a settlement fund that may permit Hillsborough taxpayers and residents to obtain refunds (as much as $100 with out exhibiting any receipts).
That plan started a couple of yr in the past, when county commissioners met to begin dividing up the funds. It was determined that about $256 million would go in the direction of highway tasks (together with highway resurfacing). At first of March of this yr, the primary $17 million of that cash began being distributed, with the entire funds anticipated to succeed in the lengthy listing of goal tasks by 2030.
The Florida Division of Transportation (FDOT) is slated to verify the county completes these tasks by the deadline. That total plan will likely be up for approval at one of many upcoming BOCC conferences in April.
Capability Issues
At our press time, county officers had not but responded to our most urgent query — How does the county plan to deal with MB Rd. volumes that certainly will considerably enhance over subsequent few years on account of improvement on the north finish of the highway (from Ok-Bar Ranch, Two Rivers and different Pasco developments), and what these forecasted volumes (in the event that they’ve been forecasted by way of visitors research or different fashions) is likely to be, in contrast with latest historic volumes (that means, how a lot progress in proportion or variety of automobiles is predicted?).
Present state information reveals an annual common day by day visitors (or AADT) of 15,000 automobiles per day for MB Rd.. (Notice-AADT is the overall quantity, in each instructions, of vehicular journeys taken on that highway every day, divided by 12 months in a yr.)
Based mostly on our preliminary calculations, it might not be unreasonable to see a rise of 20% within the visitors volumes over the following few years, given the dimensions of the long run developments that will likely be linked to the highway.
As we had written in a earlier article from April of 2024, the ultimate section of Ok-Bar Ranch in Hillsborough will add tons of extra properties, and open up ALL of Ok-Bar to MB Rd. by way of an extension of Ok-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to the east, previous Easton Park. As soon as that extension has been accomplished, this additionally will subsequently open the entire Union Park and Meadow Pointe developments in Wesley Chapel to MB Rd. as nicely, by way of the deliberate Wyndfields Blvd. extension to the south, and the present Meadow Pointe Blvd. extension.
The 6,000-acre Two Rivers improvement on the sting of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa (though it really is situated in Zephyrhills in Pasco and Thonotosassa in Hillsborough) will likely be including an estimated 7,500 extra residences, plus business developments, the Peak Surf Park and faculties, with its north-south visitors to be cut up between U.S. Hwy. 301 and MB Rd. However, as anybody residing within the space may think, it should nonetheless have a major affect on MB Rd.
Bridge Scouring
The present bridge over the Hillsborough River on MB Rd. was in-built 1963. Since then, its piers have skilled important base erosion, which is known as “scouring,” a vital drawback that may have an effect on the bridge’s structural sturdiness if not correctly addressed.
Based mostly on a reality sheet put out in January 2025,Hillsborough plans to spend roughly $864,000 to, “set up an articulating concrete block revetment system as a scour countermeasure.” Revetment is only a fancy manner of claiming a sloping construction that’s normally product of stone or concrete, used to guard the riverbed round piers from erosion attributable to river currents or different forces. In any other case, the piers can turn into unstable if an excessive amount of of the mattress is eroded, which is why it is a vital restore.
Building of the revetment system is predicted to be accomplished by early 2027.
So, How Can I Get Concerned?
Imagine it or not, your elected officers really need — and even, make that want — to listen to your visitors and security considerations about MB Rd.
So, how will you get entangled? Along with contacting your native county consultant — District 2 Commissioner Ken Hagan — Councilman Viera needs everybody to know that he has an upcoming New Tampa Neighborhood public assembly, on Tuesday, April 15, 5:45 p.m., on the Easton Park Neighborhood Pool Clubhouse (10776 Pictorial Park Dr., Tampa).
Viera says he will likely be available at that assembly to obtain enter, reply questions, and discuss MB Rd., in addition to about crime, training, housing, the progress on the deliberate park in Ok-Bar Ranch and just about anything New Tampa and even Tampa-related.
Viera will likely be joined by a consultant of the Tampa Police Division at that City Corridor-style occasion, in addition to by District 6 (countywide) Hillsborough College Board member Karen Perez.
For extra details about that assembly, electronic mail luis.viera@tampagov.web.
